3^rd Place

Cari Oleskewicz

Washington, DC

Oleskewicz is a 29-year-old freelance writer presently living in Washington, DC.  She has published poems,

short stories and opinion pieces in THE DAILY NEWS, THE REGISTER CITIZEN, and

NEWS OF THE CENTURY.  Her work can also be found in the online journals UNLIKELY STORIES and SYNERGY.

Flaminius the Wiser

Sacred chickens on a fast

I will not fight today.

Warm the horses, save the sword

And wash the mud and clay.

I measure mist. I see retreat.

But trust them I do not.

I feel ghosts and hovering death

Casting nets and plots.

Hush, my men, do not you hear them,

The thousands who surround us?

The schemes of General Hannibal

Who waits for us to rush.

Counting on our safety false

I see so clear the bait.

We need a plan. Pray to gods

My wisdom not too late.

Poultry wise, they still refuse.

How speak divine instructions?

Romans are we, warriors!

We will not meet destruction.

This lake a raging summer tempest.

By twice we are outnumbered.

If, impatiently, they rush,

Like Placentia he plundered.

I’ve done great things before this war,

And now I will change history.

This land is mine. I serve it well,

His rise to me a mystery.

The hillside moves, a mountain breathing.

Morning clouds ascending.

Gather men, and listen well,

Our empire we are defending.

He wants to see a crimson lake,

To bleed and lance us all.

Fight then, we shall not today.

I’ve heard the gods us call.

Set the birds so free they run,

They’ll show the way to safety.

I’ve listened to the omens strong.

Mere man will not destroy me.