The Battle
In a rain-swept storm, I gave my arm,
To a battle which tore my heart.
And there that night, sheltered from moon-light,
I knew I must fast depart.
For none so pure, could be more sure,
To know the way ahead.
And ‘though I fought, all came to naught,
For all seemed all but dead.
In battle throes, I would all but go,
‘Though fear did stay my feet.
And through frenzied cries, I saw the skies,
Turn red as ‘though to bleed.
For the air was rent, with lives soon spent,
In the mud and gore around.
And there that night, ‘neath the pale moon-light,
My sword fell to the ground.
On bended knees, I heard their pleas,
‘Though I could not help at all.
And with failing breath, I stared at Death,
And thought then I would fall.
But with all my might, I fought that night,
Not knowing what else to do.
And so I bled, ‘though all but dead,
The last of the living few.
I felt a blow, to my leg below,
And fell again once more.
And there I spied, amongst those who died,
Death in that muddy gore.
But I held my sword, prayed for the word,
That all around might hear.
‘Though body pained, and courage feigned,
Yet never I shed a tear.
A Deathly Encounter
So I stood once more, amidst the flowing gore,
Waiting for Death’s sure advance.
The dying cried, the rest had died,
My head swooned in a trance.
My body then light, it took to flight,
Above the battle ground.
From Death I stole, my body whole,
‘Though He uttered not a sound.
Those icy eyes, turned to the skies,
And fixed me with their stare.
Swift I arose, above the bodies of those,
Who could no longer care.
It seemed I heard, Death’s accursèd words,
Reach far within my soul.
Around and round, freed from the ground,
My body from him stole.
So I cried and cried, and heaved and sighed,
Not knowing what had occurred.
With aching bones, above the dying groans,
Quiet words within me stirred.
I could not die, I would not cry,
I rose to the firmament.
And there I heard, the Master’s words,
‘Though my life was all but spent.
A Song and A Prayer
I heard from afar, beneath the beckoning stars,
A song I had long forgot.
And as I arose, mine eyes I closed,
Reflecting why I fought.
My thoughts were stayed, by the prayer I prayed,
As warmth did fill my heart.
My body’s pain, no longer strained,
To tear my mind apart.
There I passed, ‘neath the skies so vast,
For peace o’er took my all.
And as slumber came, I heard His Name,
And then I heard Him call.
On High
How long He kept, or how long I slept,
I know not even now.
But as I did awake, I felt Him take,
My breath within somehow.
I dared not gaze, upon His Face,
I knew it deep within.
And through the night, there came a light,
To cleanse me of my sin.
He walked ahead, as I followed in dread,
His hind parts I could see.
And in that place, denied His Face,
He then did speak to me.
“Pray look ahead,” (no voice of dread,
But lilting like the sea).
“There is my sight, ‘through the darkest night,
Pray tell, how may I aid thee?”
Ahead an eye, placed in the sky,
All-seeing and all-seen.
I knew at once, this was no trance,
He knew all that had been.
I looked around, and there I found,
A Temple Great and Grand,
Above Celestial skies, I thought to cry,
In the lay of that good land.
Ahead some stairs, my soul laid bare,
Still, I saw not His Face.
I heard but His Voice, I had no choice,
But to trust in His Good Grace.
“Speak thou Son of Man, tell what you can,
Speak now in this Mine Place.
For I would know, of all below,
‘Though I shall yet conceal Mine Face.
What was the fate, of those now late,
What occurred upon that field?
This pray tell, speak thou well,
Who did and did not yield.”
A Heavenly Choir
I looked around, and heard a sound,
Fair maidens and men did sing.
Kindly they appeared, as they came near,
For peace I heard them bring.
I know not where, I did all but stare,
I thought my senses o’er flowed.
I stood in awe, of all I saw,
Their faces all aglow.
“Praise Him all,” I heard them call,
“Praise to our Lord on High.
For He has seen, all that has been,
So let the righteous draw nigh.
Let every man, and whoever can,
Come near and claim his right.
For He knows the names, of all now slain,
And He shall end their plight.
The One True Lord, has given His Sword,
To His Servant who kneels in prayer.
And this we know, of all men below,
Who fight without a care.
They shall not die, ‘neath the darkening sky,
If yet they call His Name.
But if those who die, hear not this cry,
He shall their souls reclaim.
Let the Lord be heard, pray hear His Word,
Make known to the dying and dead.
For they shall not hear, the Sword draw near,
To still their hearts and heads.
The flaming Sword, shall whisper the Word,
To those it shall lay down.
And ‘though they die, ‘neath the blackened sky,
Their souls shall not be bound.”
He turned around, I fell to the ground,
I hid my face in shame.
My body shook, my breath He took,
I could not courage feign.
I dared not gaze, upon His Face,
I knew it deep within.
He touched my heart, tore my soul apart,
He knew my every sin.
I looked ahead, and saw the dead,
Rise as ‘though to walk,
My heart beat fast, my soul aghast,
I would but could not talk.
In gory shrouds, heads held so proud,
I saw them pale and cold.
To me they made, would not be stayed,
I felt no longer bold.
“Do not come near”, I cried in fear,
The very bones in me shook.
I would have fled, I wished me dead,
But the Lord my hand then took.
But still I stood, ‘though run I would,
The voice in me was stayed.
‘Though I did try and try, I could not cry,
To plea, forever delayed.
“This is the fate, which for you waits”,
I heard the Command on High.
“You must now go, to the earth below,
‘Ere you are freed once more to die.”
Lost Souls
The dead came near, they knew my fear,
Yet still I was transfixed.
No thought in me, but there to flee,
From that which me bewitched.
When I looked around, that sandy ground,
I felt a soft, sea breeze.
The air so clear, cleansed me of fear,
Ahead I saw the sea.
Off then I bore, from that enchanted shore,
And sailed into the dark.
Unto that breech, I feign would reach,
Placed in that silver bark.
Away I sped, from that land of dread,
I prayed to God on high.
But all came to naught, as still I fought,
And thought again to die.
To the many men, I called again,
Whereon I sailed afloat,
I called and cried, and wished I died,
Imprisoned on that silvery boat.
But the words I tried, had all but died,
Cast on the wayward sea.
I crept and cried, the truth denied,
Abandoned by destiny.
Into a fitful sleep, my soul did creep,
Wherein I dreamed a dream.
Some years before, ‘ere I drowned in gore,
At peace I was it seemed.
Encounter with the Maiden
The sun shone bright, in rays of light,
And peace reigned all supreme.
The people’s joy, did all employ,
And all seemed all serene.
I saw those days, through a pleasant haze,
The scent of Spring around.
I felt the breeze, come through the trees,
Amidst the bird-song sound.
The crisp, clean air, and a face so fair,
That I stopped betwixt my stride,
My heart beat fast, but oh alas!
I fell before my pride.
I stood again, no more a man,
No more but a clumsy child.
I thought to speak, but could not keep,
To restore my manly pride.
My mouth would start, fast beat my heart,
But the air would not depart.
So I bowed down low, to the ground below,
To still my beating heart.
I saw her feet and would have leaped,
To any place far, far away.
At her face so fair, I dared not stare,
But have for ever and a day.
I feigned great strength, and displayed my wealth,
I thought to speak a while.
But my heart would not, speak of my thoughts,
And so I remained beguiled.
“Sire, this I pray, tell me this day,
What dost thou on the ground?
To mine eyes it seems, like unto a dream,
That thou shouldst so roll around.
Pray tell to me, what can it be,
Which makes thee act so strange?
To see thee thus, dost make me blush,
To see a man so change.”
I looked above, to see the face of love,
I stood upon my feet.
I took her hand, in a gesture grand,
And kissed it there to greet.
I saw her face, so full of grace,
Her lips were cherry red.
My stomach cried, of thirst I died,
Upon her beauty I fed.
“Fair maid”, I said (I hid my dread,
For her beauty shone around).
My face I turned, my very heart burned,
I looked once more to ground.
“When afar my eyes, beheld the sun rise,
My ears heard Angels sing.
In my heart I felt, upon knees I knelt,
Behold what the Lord did bring!
So I searched around, upon the ground,
For a gift to grace thine face.
But alas in vain, I looked again,
But of treasure – not a trace!”
A Prayer Answered
“So I prayed above, to my God for love,
He has me graced this day,
I beseeched of Him, to forgive my sin,
And desert me now, nay.
The Lord above, heard my prayer of love,
He pitied me somehow.
And in His Grace, I beheld thine face,
And mine heart is lost now.
I have naught to grant, but to Him give thanks,
Save this blossom in mine hand.
Pray take it here, with me stay near,
As we walk o’er this good land.”
She stayed a while, and then she smiled,
Forth she stretched her hand.
Upon her face, long would I have gazed,
Enchanted in that fair land.
Her touch so light, her smile so bright,
I fain would kiss her lips.
I took her hand, stood on that land,
By her beauty so transfixed.
That memory then, beyond my ken,
The value oh so dear!
Dare I recall, the sweetest of all,
Recollections, oh so clear?
But of what use, this lovely Muse,
That I should think thus?
I dare not show, what laid me low,
Step on! Step on, I must.
But oh that face, so full of grace,
I ne’er can it forget.
The eyes so clear, the heart so dear,
‘Tis in my very heart set.
So she took my hand, walked on that land,
Lost in love was I.
‘Though I dare not stay, I did not away,
The hours passed quickly by.
Dark Knights, Dark Dragons
But as I looked, the very ground shook,
She fell from mine hand.
I prayed to the Lord, drew fast my sword,
Scarce could I there stand.
The trees around, fell to the ground,
The sky turned dark and red.
Then from the sky, great dragons flew by,
My heart was filled with dread.
Their ghastly sound, filled the air around,
Their breath was stench indeed.
I held my head, fast filled with dread,
From my hand the maid was freed.
The dragons were stayed, there in my gaze,
Their eyes were fiery red.
On their backs they bore, great Knights of gore,
Upon my fear they fed.
The Knights dropped down, to the shaking ground,
Great weapons were in their hands.
As they walked to me, I would all but flee,
Bare could I speak or stand.
“Draw not near!” (‘though filled with fear),
I cried without effect.
But on they strode, with the dragons they rode,
My body of strength bereft.
“Touch not the maid; I shall not be stayed,
I shall here strike thee dead!”
But on they came, to the dragons’ strain,
I heard foul laughter ahead.
They spoke not a word, that ‘ere I heard,
As on the dragons cried.
I searched for the maid, on the ground she laid,
I thought she had all but died.
I dropped to her side, saw the tears she cried,
I thought she spoke my name.
I held her face, still full of grace,
The air filled with the dragons’ strain.
“Fear not fair maid”, as there she laid,
I said without conviction.
“I shall by thee stay, I shall not away,
And give thee my full protection.”
Again I rose, like unto battle throes,
Swords clashed with all my might.
I fought those men, beyond my ken
‘Though the sky were black as night.
None of them fell, why I cannot tell,
They fought without a word.
And as I did try, ‘neath the cold, dark sky,
I let slip my trusty sword.
I cast it down, to the shaking ground,
With hands alone I fought.
But ‘though I tried, I all but died,
All came to all but naught.
Then in my side, save for my pride,
I felt a searing pain.
Once more to ground, I then fell down,
And prayed to Him again.
A Prayer
“Pray keep me here, with Thee draw near,
‘Though I deserve not Thine Aid.
Not for me, I ask this of Thee,
But for sake of this fair maid.
To me she came, when I called Thine Name,
Thou sent her here to me.
Now for her sake, pray my life take,
But embrace her unto Thee.”
Near Fatal Injury
My body bled, the ground turned red,
My breath was all but stayed.
I closed mine eyes, thinking there to die,
There on the ground I laid.
I lost all trace, of her beautiful face,
They left me all but dead.
On the dragons then, they flew again,
The black sky now turned red.
A Phantom Ship and Crew
Within me stirred, like the wings of a bird,
My heart-beat slowed at length.
Mine eyes saw dark, upon that silvery bark,
My senses returned with strength.
Some silent men, I saw them then,
They seemed no more to care.
On the deck stood I, as the sea sailed by,
I saw their empty stare.
The wind blew cold, like the taste of gold,
I drew my cloak around.
I closed mine eyes, looked to the skies,
And walked the deck around.
“Pray tell me now,” I said aloud,
To the ghostly crew thereon.
“What destiny, does now await me?”
But on we sailed and on.
No word they said, like the silent dead,
I demanded of them more.
To me it seemed, like a nightmare or dream,
As we sailed to foreign shores.
“How long must I wait, and to what fate,
Before me what lies ahead?”
How should I fare, with their silent stares,
That crew of living dead?
The sea rolled on, ‘neath the blistering sun,
It seemed that I would die.
Upon that bark, in light and dark,
There I would dream and lie.
The days passed by, ‘neath the Summer skies,
I thought on what lay ahead.
I paced around, without a sound,
Among those living dead.
How many days, I cannot say,
Whereon I sailed that boat.
Through day and night, and dark and light,
I pondered and I thought.
What strange events, had to me lent,
The venture on which I had strayed.
The love I felt, when before her I knelt,
Would in my thoughts ‘ere play.
A Beautiful Memory
Her beauteous face, would my thoughts grace,
Her voice so lilting and sweet.
In that ocean haze, I passed those days,
Her memory would I keep.
The Sea Voyage
But mine heart was rent, when I was sent,
O’er the sea and in that boat.
I ne’er could see, those men with me,
In day when we did float.
But that ghostly crew, at night they proved,
‘Though silent and said no word.
No candle light, had they by night,
And ne’er they drew a sword.
The sails unfurled, we sailed the world,
Many shores we did pass by.
I cursed and swore, and cursed e’en more,
As onwards we did fly.
One night I awoke, to remove my cloak,
The captain o’er me swayed.
To my feet I rose, ‘midst those salty throes,
To the ship’s edge I then strayed.
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