Post by John Watts on Jan 17, 2015 16:42:11 GMT
Jan 16, 2015 19:15:19 GMT John Watts said:
A topical bit of mayhem Civil War
From the the steel glitter of their distant lines
Royalist trumpets blazed, flag banners flew,
and imperious drumming swept down to us.
Facing this stage, in thrall like novice actors
we stood towards a role to dreadful to be real.
The orders came to march. The Captain shouts,
“We are off to glory lads, show them our steel”.
Now our drums struck, and urged on forward
by sergeants prodding swords,we now saw
our bound fortune stark in all it's grim reality.
Parson declares, the good Lord our safety holds
we need not fear. It lights in some a holy gleam
against the regal foe. Pray God, let this be so.
With silver, brandy and views of dashing style
'twas the Devil brought me here, not the Lord.
We approach an enemy sea of wan grey faces,
their haunted stares mirror to our doubting fear.
Perhaps like us they sense a bastard kinship.
How dare we assail the king, or he his subjects ?
Our canons roar to theirs, all miss their mark
Where do these moments lead ? The future's real
but all unknown; until successive moments seed
the next to come, be it our last, or leading on;
except old soldiers say, if you see a flying ball
then at that time you will see the future come
Our Cannons roar, balls shriek close over head.
Hideous screams, an awe-full bloody swathe.
“Now go lads” Captain yells “Charge the gap.”
Pressed on, we level pikes and trembling, close.
The only escape was death, deal it or embrace it.
Mad fear might live, faint fear would surely fall.
For endless eternity steel hacked, at mortal flesh,
a pitiless loathsome morass of blood and terror;
fit to turn the gall of all Hells darkest angels.
On that battle is spread a cloak of noble victory,
great praise, and brave acclaim from all not there
that will, or dare not, encompass that long day.
True witness is the agony you see before you
in this weak broken body and this shaking hand
now bound to a cripples stool and wracking pain.
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