What Can be Done... When Doom is Nigh?

Trapped within friendly citadel walls with enemies in every direction, a hero faces a grueling battle beside his desperate allies. However, have they lost? Are they alone? No. They have each other.

What can be Done… When Doom is Nigh?

My allies, my friends, my brothers, my sisters! Man the walls, hold the gate, aim the trebuchet and ballista!

Sound the bell towers, go to the battlements, mount the horses! Ready your arrows, draw your swords, prepare your spears, raise your shields!

Do not give in to your fear, control your rage, find your courage! For today, the enemy has come! Today, doom stands at our front door!

Yet, will we allow our front door to be forced ajar? Will we let our foe destroy all that we, our ancient ancestors, have accomplished and hold dearly here?

Will we submit to defeat today? Will everything we’ve done die by the time that sun sets in the western horizon? Or will we, everything around us, endure like the many terrible times before our own?

Are we truly doomed here within these walls… or is it they, waiting outside to spill our blood, who will 

be put to an end?

For hundreds of years, we, as a people, have been scorned by everyone and everything! For too many centuries, until now, have we not had a place in this world to call our own! Where we belong!

Finally, we have everything that we need. Finally, we, you and I and every one of us gathered here to face the storm, have a home! A life! Now that is to be taken away from us?

No. I think not. As do all of you. Why would I see so many souls rally to my call when needed then?

There has been much thought, much prediction, that this is the end. To that, I say that’s nonsense. Am I not living proof that the impossible is possible? Do I not show you that there is hope left?

Throughout their trials, our forefathers before us were blessed. They conquered everything that looked to conquer them, including the bloody fights like this one coming for us!

As their children, we are no different than those before us. We have their luck! We have their fortune! We have their power! This war that is approaching, this siege that will shake us, will not best us!

I look upon all of you and see uncertainty. Do not be ashamed to be for I’m the same. I do not have the answers to what will happen to us in the coming days.

We will question our god. We will question our morals. We will think about the darkest things.

However, I believe our trials will not be anywhere near as terrible as to what will happen to those looking to invade us! Despite the odds, we will make them cower! We will make them weep! We will make them run from this place to the farthest realms, never looking back!

We are strong, my friends! I know so because I am one of you! Together, our light will shine the brightness against their darkness! Together, we will find victory and make our ancestors proud!

Soldiers of the oppressed people, my brothers and sisters, join me today with good faith as we fight, live, and win this impossible fight! Join me in proving everything said against us wrong! Join me!

The gate is being breached! Very well, let them come with their vicious drums beating, horns blaring, and troops screaming!

Remember who you are my fellows! Remember those that need you and that I stand fearless alongside you! Remember, when that sun sets, we will have pleased our forefathers this day!

Stand! Stand and fight!

Author's Note

Alright, maybe it wasn't really a poem. It feels more like a short story. Anyway, my inspiration for this is when a main character of mine - along with his people - face a ridiculous opposition. Sure, they have a citadel to cower in but the enemy that comes for them all is vast and almost endless. The only comfort the trapped souls have is that they know reinforcements are coming for them. However, can they last that long? Their champion certainly thinks so.

Reviews

[Eryn ♪]

Maybe a folk song like "Over the Misty Mountains"? This could be looked at either way. It is the authors intent that makes it poetry. I like it, like the previously mentioned, it is hard for me to read as poetry, but I enjoy the story behind it. Good job capturing the feeling of the battle.

[Cousitarian]

Oh boy. You really had to mention the song "Over the Misty Mountains"? Not cool. Gonna have that stuck in my head all day long. Still, I'm glad to see that that's what came to your mind when reading this. Cool! Yep, again, not GOOD with POEMS! Got distracted by waaaay too much going through my head while writing. lol :P