A SimWar Mosaic

By S.R. Cyres

A description of a conflict is not the conflict itself but a simulation or retelling of it. And not all conflicts escalate into physical, bloody war, but there are similarities. For example, they both have rules of engagement, strategy, and tactics used to defeat the opponent.

These poems about various conflicts comprise a collection, or mosaic, of simulated wars, hence the title. Because it is impossible to enumerate the infinite number of conflicts possible, this is but a sample that I have either witnessed or thought about. For example, I can’t write about prison or blood-and-guts war from personal experience. I can only write what I think about them.

Conflict by itself has no morality associated with it. One’s viewpoint does. For example, if two people want the same limited quantity resource, either they cooperate and share it, or they deadlock and fight for it, winner take all. The morality of that conflict depends on one’s point of view, not the conflict itself. Is “lying” a bad thing? Is “hypocrisy”? Again, that depends on one’s point of view. However, one would think we could agree on some basic courtesies.

Conflicts are inevitable in our lives, and how we learn to deal with them can test our characters. To paraphrase Sun Tzu in “The Art of War” (chapter 3 item 18), to be consistently victorious in battle, you must know both yourself and your enemy. In “A SimWar Mosaic”, sometimes the victory is an acknowledgement of unresolvable conflict dynamics and how each side recognizes themselves in it. "The Corinthian Label" starts this collection by holding a mirror to the flames of political and religious hypocrisy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.R. Cyres
• Release date: Dec 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005040581

S.R. Cyres

I’m Steven R. Cyres (pronounced "Sears"). I retired from federal service in the U. S. Bureau of Land Management in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2020 from a career in IT project management, database development, and electronic document management. I started writing poetry in high school, and half a century later I'm editing several collections to publish. Current events, politics, romance, war, circuses, dreamscapes all get a voice in my writing. My 30+ years in martial arts is also a steady influence. I wrote the introduction poetry for my friend Lolo Paige's Blazing Hearts Wildfire series of Alaska fire fighter romance novels. Post retirement, I travel with my life partner, who I am very happy to have do the logistics planning. What a chore that is! She is the inspiration for most of the poems including and after "Anne" in my romance collection "Phoenix Dreams".

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A SimWar Mosaic

by Steven Raymond Cyres

Copyright 2022 S. R. Cyres

Smashwords Edition

The poems Morning Star, Revelation, and Seattle Morning were previously copyrighted in 2021 by S. R. Cyres.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. No part of this work may be used for commercial purposes without the author's written consent.

Cover Art

by Unique_Digital at https://selfpubbookcovers.com/Unique_Digital

eBooks by S. R. Cyres

Phoenix Dreams, copyrighted and published in 2021 with Smashwords.

A SimWar Mosaic, copyrighted and published in 2021 with Smashwords.

Print Books by S. R. Cyres

Phoenix Dreams, published in 2023 with Draft2Digital.

A SimWar Mosaic, published in 2023 with Draft2Digital.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to poet Walter M. Martin in Reno, Nevada, for editing advice.

Dedication

To those who show their best character when dark and stormy nights growl that fate is inevitable.

Table Of Contents

A SimWar Mosaic

Author's Note

About the Author

The Corinthian Label

Advancing The Colors

Aloha

April Muse

A SimWar Mosaic

Boutique Etcetera

Bull Dog Breeze

Can Of Worms

Christmas Cactus

Christmas Day

Christmas Spirit

Day Dreams

Day's End

Dolce Far Niente

End Game

Equanimous

Fashion

Father Walter

Feeling It Deep

Flash Fire

Green Orpheus

Guiding Principles

Here And Now

Hour Glass

In Flight

In Focus

In The Moment

It's Not What You Think

Kona Stir

Latch Key Kids

Lessons Learned

Letting Go

Lullaby For Jack

Me

Midnight Call

Morning Star

Mother

My Dream Of You

Myopia Dystopia

Negotiations

New Year’s Resolution

Night Dreams

Night Light

No Take Back

Oasis

Ode To Rodin

Once Upon A Time

On Park Street And Bond

Paint By Color

Penny Thoughts

Reef Knot

Revelation

Ring World

River-Mist Queen

Road Map

Road Song

Sea Change

Sea Metaphor

Seattle Morning

Secret Storm

Sensible Love

Sitting Down To Write

Still Log

Swim Meet

The Bells Of St. Mark’s

The Count d'Escargot

The Eden Reflex

The Faceless Tao

The Good Life

The Map

The Poetry Of Bees

The Search

The Signal

The Sound Of Laughter

The Taylor’s Clothes

Today Is A Good Day

Um Is A Word

Victory

Waiting At The Wheel

Waiting For Buddha

We’ve Got This

What If

What I’ll Miss

When I’m Gone

Where Do The Walking Wounded Go?

Who Knows?

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A SimWar Mosaic

A description of a conflict is not the conflict itself but a simulation or retelling of it. And not all conflicts escalate into physical, bloody war, but there are similarities. For example, they both have rules of engagement, strategy, and tactics used to defeat the opponent.

These poems about various conflicts comprise a collection, or mosaic, of simulated wars, hence the title. Because it is impossible to enumerate the infinite number of conflicts possible, this is but a sample that I have either witnessed or thought about. For example, I can’t write about prison or blood-and-guts war from personal experience. I can only write what I think about them.

Conflict by itself has no morality associated with it. One’s viewpoint does. For example, if two people want the same limited quantity resource, either they cooperate and share it, or they deadlock and fight for it, winner take all. The morality of that conflict depends on one’s point of view, not the conflict itself. Is lying a bad thing? Is hypocrisy? Again, that depends on one’s point of view. However, one would think we could agree on some basic courtesies.

Conflicts are inevitable in our lives, and how we learn to deal with them can test our characters. To paraphrase Sun Tzu in The Art of War (chapter 3 item 18), to be consistently victorious in battle, you must know both yourself and your enemy. In A SimWar Mosaic, sometimes the victory is an acknowledgement of unresolvable conflict dynamics and how each side recognizes themselves in it. The Corinthian Label starts this