We had not expected to make landfall here

We had not expected to make landfall hereHad not expected to arrive at allDrowning was all we knew

The gentle art of going under

Gracefully giving way without a struggle

Now we are non-plussed

Who would have thought it

All those years of losing without findingSurviving against the odds

Swimming against the tide

Have brought us hereHow did we merit this

Shielding our eyes from joyBaffled impressed and shakenWhat are the odds on thisWe have heard about winning and losing

We know there are games you can play

Where others lose so you can win And cannot figure out these games

We do not understand the concept

Of reducing others to increase yourself

Of winning at the cost of others losing

And ask where this can lead youIf there is such a thing as winning

We would prefer to win on merit

And would like you to win too

By the increase of your merit

(If there is such a thing as merit)Rather than lose by a reduction of your power

(If there is such a thing as losing)

Braced with the lifelong habit

Of surviving against the odds

We want you to make landfall too

Even against the odds

(If there are any odds)

(from THE NEW ORDER copyright E. J. Ward 2015)