Conquistador/The Argument- by: Archibald MacLeish
Of that world’s conquest and the fortunate wars:
Of the great report and expectation of honor:
How in their youth they stretched sail: how fared they

Westward under the wind: by wave wandered:
Shoaled ship at the last at the ends of ocean:
How they were marching in the lands beyond:

Of the difficult ways there were and the winter’s snow:
Of the city they found in the good lands: how they lay in it:
How there was always the leaves and the days going:

Of the fear they had in their hearts for their lives’ sake:
How there was neither the night nor the day sure: and the
Gage they took for their guard: and how evil came of it:

How they were dead and driven and endured:
How they returned with arms in the wet month:
How they destroyed that city: and the gourds were

Bitter with blood: and they made their roofs with the gun stocks:

Of that world’s conquest and the fortunate wars....