Dichotomy of the Survivor

Destruction all around
Blood runs forth without a sound
Born of simple but truthful lies
Pyrrhic victory was the prize

Ugly yet so beautiful
A masterpiece of war
Many agree its worth was doubtful
Brings soldiers in droves to the bar

Friends and enemies torn asunder
The actions of me all a blunder
Fear and desperation all that is left
War has left them of hope bereft

Now in the quiet of peace
As if all that is worthwhile did cease
Families broken apart
All in the name of art

A picture so distorted
Its meaning has been soiled
Of the horrors they cast a glance
That can't be captured by chance

The tales of those who have fallen
Commiserated by those whose sin
was simply to have survived
while the others simply died.