cardinal

[sculptor]

A young cardinal saw his reflection in one of my shop windows. Deciding that that reflection was his enemy: The young cardinal repeatedly attacked his enemy.
Flying head on to the battle, he finally succeeded in killing his enemy.

 

[DaveC426913]

A pity. And so easily avoided.

 

[sculptor]

A pity. And so easily avoided.

Perhaps: I should have posted this in the philosophy area?

 

[(Q)]

Reaching for his saddlebag
He takes a tarnished cross
Into his hand
Standing like a preacher now
He shouts across the ocean
To the shore
Till he can shout no more

 

[Pinball1970]

Perhaps: I should have posted this in the philosophy area?

I thought this was going to be about a priest.

 

[foghorn]

A young cardinal saw his reflection in one of my shop windows. Deciding that that reflection was his enemy: The young cardinal repeatedly attacked his enemy.
Flying head on to the battle, he finally succeeded in killing his enemy.

My bold above.
Wow, the cardinal managed to smash the window and outlive his enemy.
But, he did break all his own teeth in the fight, and so he now has to succeed.

 

[TheVat]

A young cardinal saw his reflection in one of my shop windows. Deciding that that reflection was his enemy: The young cardinal repeatedly attacked his enemy.
Flying head on to the battle, he finally succeeded in killing his enemy.

So, probably not on the shortlist for next Pope.

BTW, the opening of the poem at the narrative heart of Nabokov's Pale Fire seems sort of relevant to your OP.

I was the shadow of the waxwing slain
By the false azure in the windowpane;

 

[TheVat]

Wow, the cardinal managed to smash the window and outlive his enemy.
But, he did break all his own teeth in the fight, and so he now has to succeed

(groan)

It's my understanding of church doctrine that cardinals are forbidden to succeed.