The evolution of time

Squanders all its jewels

Along its uphill climb

Its setbacks and its duels

The road they say is daunting

Sweet in failures and toughened dreams

The foofsoldiers are haunting

Troubled, by polluted streams

And what is the outcome

Drumbeats lined with memories

On the standard-issue drum

Belching drawn-out calories

For the likes of Noriega and Putin

Who valued force or fortitude

Each at the end of the contender’s spectrum

Both filtering out gratitude