title: Bittersweet Battle: and Other Adventures
author: Eric Jensen
description: Eric Jensen is a retired computer programmer who taught a computer to read aloud, automated newspaper offices, and designed robot control systems. He enjoys puttering in the garden and watching the ocean. What is a computer programmer doing writing poetry? Having fun. I hope you enjoy reading these verses as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
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  Prologue
  
  In the distance, a golden sun with tinges of red dropped over the hills to the
  west of Thogt, the most important port city on the continent. Waves of grass
  danced slowly in the slight breeze as far as the eye could see. Tonight, two
  guards stood in front of the city's western gate, settling in for what was
  expected to be another calm night.
  
  One, Jensen, a family man from just inside the walls nearby, turned his back
  on the world outside the city to look up. On top of the wall, a story and a
  half tall, he saw another guard making their rounds. Jensen waved. The other
  guard waved back before continuing their duty.
  
  “Hey, Arlen! I'm gonna lose some water, mind keeping an eye out?” Jensen
  yelled to the other guard.
  
  Nearly three wagon lengths away, the other guard laughed.
  
  “Not sure if I can handle it! A stray cat might get me, so go quick!” Arlen
  answered.
  
  Jensen chuckled and put his spear down. As he walked along the wall to the
  north, a figure caught his a