General Collins & General Güemes
Sonnet

One Hundred Years apart - "Independence",
General Güemes and General Collins.
Leaders of men against Spain and England,
Liberating Argentina and Ireland.

 

1816, Güemes fought for love of country,
His Army halted invasions to be free.
Transcending the Gaucho spirit on horse,
The Salteño defeated the Spanish force.

 

1916, Collins used intellect and grit,
Harnessing the Irish steel will, without quit.
Easter Rising and 'blood sacrifice' would stain,
The man from Cork finally ended British reign.

 

Once in a century leaders, supremely clever,
Both killed in their thirties, remembered forever.

 

Richard C. Welch, Jr. 1/24/2013