don’t accept the loss but the journey back

Just as a Roman army, after a defeat, 

accepted the journey back 

so, after every loss, a journey back is possible. 

Accept it. 

 

Don’t accept the loss 

but the journey back that follows it 

all the way into your own entrenchment, 

the body’s armour 

 

all the way to where you were 

before the loss followed 

and choose something else. 

 

A road to Rome. 

 

[Hagar Peeters {1972- } 'The Saying Goes', from City of Sandcastles]