flip flop

Demosthenes trapped Spartans in a bind
exploiting Sphacteria's weed-clogged ditch
he took their hoplites roughly from behind
exultant hegemon to Sparta's bitch
Athenian's gained glory in the game
and should have offered peace if they'd been wise
to capitalize Sparta's day of shame
to be preeminent in Greece's eyes
such opportunities don't come again
they over-reached attacking Syracuse
at vast expense of silver, ships, and men
a pointless foreign battlefield to lose
as neatly as an ancient story can
Thucydides foretold our Vietnam