hubris

Demosthenes beat Sparta with his mind
exploiting Sphacteria's weed-clogged ditch
he took their soldiers roughly from behind
exultant hegemon to Sparta's bitch
Athenians gained glory in this 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 in silver, ships, and men
a pointless foreign battlefield to lose
as neatly as an ancient story can
Thucydides foretold our Vietnam