‘An American Fabius’: A Poem by John Hernandez

An American Fabius

I shan’t soon forget that impactful day
When my son marched with face weathered cloudy and gray.
His tears bitter rain as his chest moved in heaves,
Crying, “Daddy, I do not know who to believe!
My hero, George Washington, just died today!

Puzzled, I urged him to share with me more,
So he gathered his bearings as he swiped his wet face.
“Teacher said that his skills as a gen’ral were poor,
And the best of his leadership nigh a disgrace!
Just the stuff made of legends is all he can boast;
Then she scorned and she scoffed as she sullied his ghost.
How could I get it so pitifully wrong?
A great man, I thought, but was fooled all along!
Daddy, O Daddy—” he could not go on.

I scooped up my boy for a seat on my lap
And consoled him with hugs as his head I did tap.
I called for his ears so to set the tale straight
Of two brilliant heroes both wise and both great;
I took in a gasp, and I breathed a quick prayer
That my son’s wounded heart could be bandaged with care.
Recounting their history, best as I dare,
To stir his dear heart is all I could ask;
Then a peace from on high made me fit for the task.

“A scornworthy coward, his method too slow!”
“A traitor besides! A sure worthless case!”
“And the best of his leadership nigh a disgrace!”
“The nation’s at risk with a fool at the helm!”
The rants against General Fabius would go;
The terrible leader of Carthage he faced,
Whose men were well-trained and whose might overwhelmed.

Yet the general knew his opponent was great,
Thus he brandished the most worthy sword in his pack;
Not forged from metal, his choice for attack
Was the weapon called Wisdom, a powerful blade.
“Let us camp the high hills, out of reach from the foe,
As a plan of strategic attack move we slow,
Shunning large battles, ‘tis for our own good,
Cutting off lines of supply and of food;
We wear down ol’ Hannibal, then make our move
With size and with resource, with patience we prove
My tactic has merit, if fought as we should.”

And so Ancient Rome, after paying him scorn
Found in their man, the one they disdained,
Unlikely triumph o’er Carthage was gained,
And respect for its hero, Lord Fabius, was born.
Centuries passed and another so bold
Arrived on the scene in the Fabian mold:
A simple farmer, surveyor by trade,
Yet in this humility greatness was made.
A heart filled with valor, of character true
Marked the man, Washington, noble like few.
His skills on the battlefield shined like found gold;
Like Rome’s ancient general, his scabbard held
The same deadly weapon of heavenly weld.
He wielded it shrewdly, gaining much ground,
The decision to place him as general was sound.

A country was shaping in embryo form,
Resembling her Mother while in the womb warm:
A heritage of freedom, of rights for all men,
A passion to fight the tyrannical storm.
For unborn America, the general would bend
His knee in great reverence, with pledge to her care;
Vowing his honor was his pious prayer.
And thus he had cause when Mother did turn
From natural affection, her offspring to spurn.
That Washington sided with those who would fight
For judicious treatment, for fairness, for right.
The battle loomed large, mother country did send
A dispatch of world-class warrior men;
On our side were farmers and working-class folk,
Outmatched and outnumbered, yet willing to spend
Their very lives for America’s hope.

Perceiving great worth in their own Fabius,
Knowing the fight between lion and lamb
Would call for a general of sagest command,
The choice of the Congress was unanimous.
Then pledging their honor, their fortunes, their lives,
Their signatures forging supreme sacrifice
Sealing their fates on the Fourth of July,
With Liberty’s angel commissioned for us.

Maternal cord severed, Rubicon spanned,
Washington surveyed the tools at his hand:
A motley crowd in rustic attire,
Hardly the training, a homely brood,
Forced to wage war with an army so crude,
Scant in all that a soldier required.

Feverishly working to build up their lack,
His sights set for Boston, held by the foe.
By Fabian deception he planned his attack,
Distracting the Brits with a mock cannon fight;
Meanwhile in secrecy he took the Heights,
Freeing the town by a devious blow.

Down to New York for the next campaign,
Outnumbered, outflanked by Howe’s brigade,
Washington’s generals taken in chains.
A siege was planned to complete the rout,
Yet taking a page from the Roman’s book,
He snatched every fishing boat, yacht, and sloop;
And though General Howe nearly sealed every out,
By stealth river crossing retreat was made.

Through many like exploits did Washington go,
Then public opinion had started to wane:
“A scornworthy coward, his method too slow!”
“And the best of his leadership nigh a disgrace!”
Yet like that brave general, he was not fazed;
Neither charge undeserved, nor traitor’s sharp bane,
Nor downtrodden soldiers who could not defend
For want of a morsel, some shoes, or a shirt,
Could stop our great leader’s pursuit of the end:
American freedom from all British hurt.

Many an hour he returned to his knee,
With calls to the Sovereign in desperate plea.
At last came the moment, a bold stroke of chance,
Washington’s brilliance now started to dance!
He called all the forces, no moment to spare,
Pouncing on Yorktown, the enemy there.
His genius lauded by nary one less
Than defeated General Cornwallis.

And so our America, finally set free,
Due not in the least to Washington’s hand;
Not mediocre, no talentless man,
But rather the Champion of Liberty!
I looked at my son as the tears flowed anew,
“O Daddy, O Daddy—I so thank you!”
No need to say more as he hugged on my neck
His doubt and confusion had been put in check.
For many a scoffer, naïve or defiant,
Would cast their feigned shade o’er the grand name
Of General Washington, towering giant—
An American Fabius of immortal fame.

John Hernandez is a Christian school educator with 30 years of experience training young lives in academics and the performing arts. He produced and directed numerous original musical theater presentations throughout that time. Mr. Hernandez currently resides in Clayton, North Carolina, where he functions as choir director and pianist for his church, Calvary Chapel of Chapel Hill.