I will only die fighting.

Midnight burns a shadow, in the man who stands alone
Beneath death's tree, the savior of the night

He prays to the Gods, of love and of darkness
That they will help him, defeat every demon

He doubts himself, as with shaking hands
He readies the sword, he has been given

On this gravel path, he longs for morning's light
But midnight stole his dreams, and dares him now to fight

Will he take, the soldier's move?
And bury the sword, into the guilty?

Or will he place, the blade on his heart,
and say farewell, to the gift of his life?

Slowly he turns, the knife towards his chest
The blade is sharp, in weakening hands

His knees give way, as he falls to the ground
"Oh Lords, why have you betrayed me!?"

His cry is empty, of God's own reply
His sobs still piercing, Satan's night

But then a whisper, through the dark...
Lifts his head, to face the light

"Why have you fallen, to your knees!?
Get up and fight, this devil's war

The fate of the world, rests in your hands
The darkened shadows, have set their demands

They are not as powerful, as the one who lives
With bravery resting, in mortal hands

Death does not conquer, our own will to live
Or the faith we hold, in God's one command."

LIVE.

And so the soldier, rose to his feet
Facing the army, that circles the forest

The gravel path, soon soaked in blood
The only sign, that the battle had begun

Until the last, of the demons is gone
And only light, fills our world

But.... look there.... to our soldier
On his knees, once again

Pain filling the face, that once was weak
Until he heard, the voice from above

Shot through the heart, he almost destroyed
With the blade that killed, each of our enemies

But with his last breath, still full of faith
He calls to the Gods, that reign from above

"This last war....
I have won!"

Author's Note

The battles we face in life, may eventually kill us all. But it's always better to die fighting them.

Reviews

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

I must say that was quite an epic call to arms... talk about motivational and inspirational... a truly fantastic piece of writing.

[S. Kimball]

Why hasn't this been reviewed yet?!

THIS WAS AWESOME.

Like I've mentioned in other reviews, I'm a sucker for symbolism, especially in the form of epic poems like this.

The form you wrote with was an acquired taste, but once I got used to it, I saw why you wrote the way you did. It helped add effect and that epic feeling as it kept the pacing fast but the wording slow.

The message was good as well. It could be used as a sort of inspiration when a challenge seems to strong.

As a matter of fact, I'm going through a rough patch in my life right now. I've been battling, so to speak, with depression for months.

Your poem here really helped me understand that I shouldn't give in to that urge to end it all, and that I should rather die fighting it.

If that makes any sense.

Anyway, good work. Very good work. Added to my library.