In Visions

The land is dark, as night quietly moves towards end, The trees, though unseen, sway in the gentle wind, Campfires glow behind the darkness, voices ring in crisp airing, Unguarded moments of truth hidden within stories of daring; The scarring of battle reflects in fires shining, The lines of age and wisdom telling the true heroes pining, Bravado echoes the gathering, bravery not lacking this night, The uneasy feeling of fear must not be allowed to take flight; Each trying to outdo the other, the talk getting more brave, The blood spilled redder, each man cheating the grave, Each battle more fierce than any battle fought, Each tale more exaggerated, each lie more wrought; The young listen to the old enraptured by brave deeds, Trying to push away fear, in hope that sleep succeeds, In sleep to find solace away from the brutality, And, then to find courage, perhaps even immortality; A wish to die in dignity, dreaming of years to come, An unending quest for glory, too many victories for some, In dreams battles are fought, to leave the battlefield untorn, A life fulfilled in visions, a heroes dream well-worn; As dawn creeps from the hills, the men are shadowed by dust, Weapons, well polished are sheathed, columns formed in trust, The leaders voices shouting, their orders go unquestioned, Moving these lines forward, towards a fate unmentioned; These soldiers introduce their souls to what future remains, The slash of blade, the glint of steel, the rattle of chains, The taste of blood prevails, a hardened metamorphosis begins, Innocence is lost, and will never return to gentle origins; The unsure fledglings change, young men become as the old, Tried in battle, trued in flame, warriors souls are sold, The truth hangs in their stare, the nothingness they perceive, Those faces once unscarred, now bear the brand they recieve; To walk away untouched, to return to bragging rights, To cheat death and the burial crew, giving brief respites, To build a new camp, a fire to warm, is all a soldier needs, The march to glory takes a toll, a warriors life proceeds...... Written November 17th, 2001 © on Nov 17 2001 02:38 PM PST   10 • 0