The Opponent

    

Frost Nixon, a 1998 riveting drama uncovers the Watergate scandal during Nixon's presidency; Frost is a journalist who interviews Nixon—getting hard-wired right down to the truth.  Frost invests (monetarily and hourly) for his interview, even syndicating the segment out of his own pocket—and paying a hefty sum to Nixon.  His friends and supporters advise, coach him in the process; moreover, Frost wins in attaining his personal agenda:  Confession of Nixon's crime.  Nixon lets down his guard, shows contrition for what he has made the country, and finally admits to a crime of obstruction of justice; nonetheless the scandal created a wide margin of distrusts in people and their attitudes towards their government; thus his legacy would not be marked by a term of great presidency, but by a smear as the infamous one marked by scandal and impeachment.  Frost's dealing with Nixon exudes class, which is often marked by men of quality—criticized as playing soft initially, Frost later transitions into a hard contender, challenging his tough opponent.       

My poem is inspired from the movie Frost Nixon, and Nixon's wording, "only one of us can win."  So the poem is entitled The Opponent.  Last line of the poem has been inspired by Frost's travel of great distance to see his former opponent Nixon again after the interview, but Frost's visit (this time) resides at Nixon's estate and with a gift to his name.  Now that is class . . .  a high-class act.




The Opponent

How would you first strike your opponent?

Your strategm can be deployed by many means,

One:  Dress in veil, act, pose as his help; so he leaks,

 

Next:  Disarm with your fakery; he’ll show his screen,

Then yield and comes to light,

How would you first strike your opponent?

Your strategm can be deployed by many means,

  

Two:  Throw rocks and stones—down they pelt,

He’ll lay down his arms, cede,

Raze, pulverize his goods and assets,

What’s behind other than lees?

How would you first strike your opponent?

Your strategm can be deployed by many means,

  

No gold nabbed and nothing to arrest,

Ruins of grit, some talc, burnt seeds,

That is:  mend for a better pursuit,

Not raid a blustering blitzkrieg out,

Make amends and patch up the brunt,

What gains are of clashing bloodsheds, melees,

Than gnaw away at your face—this much I’ve seen,

How would you first strike your opponent?

Your strategm can be deployed by many means.