Skip to content
Linespedia

Germania

By Charles Griffith

Topics: Poetry Source: AllPoetry Original source

GermaniaA ruined outpost in a gothic wood,to this we march single-file;a resting place for weary feet,a perfect place to sit and eatat the end of a roman mile.A squad of soldiers, to which I belong,sits upon the old stones to rest;in the shadow of Caesar's legions,in the midst of this alien regionin which we are only guests.Rifles stacked, shining in the sun,our helmets off and pistol belts undone;I think of battles lost and battles won;the harrowing deaths of brave men,the barbarian slaughter and the battle's din.But now cigarettes and coffee go roundas someone jokes about a whore;perhaps a centurion said the same thingin this same spot, one day in the springtwo thousand years before.But my friends can't see from where they lieon this sunny afternoon in Julythat the ghosts of the legions watch over us;they still stand guardwith a gaze so hardand a vigilance that is ever righteous.And as I sit upon this noble groundmy thoughts continue to stray;how many men moreon their way to unknown warshave yet to pass this way?But now it's time to move outand put away these thoughts so noble and good:time to end our stay,time to march awayfrom this ruined outpost in a gothic wood. Written October 13th, 2001 © on Oct 13 2001 02:40 PM PST   0 • 10

AI analysis available. Enable JavaScript to interact.

About this line

"GermaniaA ruined outpost in a gothic wood,to this we march single-file;a resting place for weary feet,a perfect place to sit and eatat the end of a roman mile.A squad of soldiers, to which I belong,sits upon the old stones to rest;in the shadow of Caesar's legions,in the midst of this alien regionin which we are only guests.Rifles stacked, shining in the sun,our helmets off and pistol belts undone;I think of battles lost and battles won;the harrowing deaths of brave men,the barbarian slaughter and the battle's din.But now cigarettes and coffee go roundas someone jokes about a whore;perhaps a centurion said the same thingin this same spot, one day in the springtwo thousand years before.But my friends can't see from where they lieon this sunny afternoon in Julythat the ghosts of the legions watch over us;they still stand guardwith a gaze so hardand a vigilance that is ever righteous.And as I sit upon this noble groundmy thoughts continue to stray;how many men moreon their way to unknown warshave yet to pass this way?But now it's time to move outand put away these thoughts so noble and good:time to end our stay,time to march awayfrom this ruined outpost in a gothic wood...."

Attribution & Rights

Author:Charles Griffith

Source:AllPoetry

"GermaniaA ruined outpost in a gothic wood,to this ..." by Charles Griffith

For usage rights, copyright concerns, or to report an issue with this content, please visit our Copyright & Report page.

Related lines

"A shining moment, that once shined so bright, now washed away, as the sun to the night; Once carved in stone, now no more; the soft sand, swept from the shore. A time so precious, yet none could see..."

"Cold and still, a careless mist,the failing light of a winter's day;ancient shadows cast themselves across the pathas weary feet move forward.Cloaked in hooded attire they trudge onward,their gnarled ..."

"a cool breeze, and the night whispers in my ear; it brings me a song, on a note so clear the flow of the tune leads me to gentle thoughts; those of life and hope, of a future i have not yet wrought ..."

"It's just about two-thirty; time for you to pick up the kids from school, isn't it ? Go ahead and finish your coffee first. I know, you'd rather stay and watch the television; stay and sob over the wr..."

"The sound of a train, riding the autumn air through an open window on a still southern night. The call of a waiting world, the comfort of childhood dreams and old songs playing on an old radio. Writte..."

"Bare feet, shuffling through an old house in the last lingering hour of night. Drawn to a narrow window, facing the anxious eyes of a never ending dawn with nothing to reach, and nothing to attain. Du..."

Charles Griffith

About Charles Griffith

Full Bibliography
Continue Reading

"A shining moment, that once shined so bright, now ..."

Weekly Poetic Insight

Join our literary Sanctuary

Get the most inspiring lines, poetic analysis, and secret shayaris delivered to your inbox every Sunday.