Massacre @ Masada.

The knives are out as the Romans surround the Zealots at the Masada Fort.

(The View from the Masada Fortifications)

Massacre @ Masada


Imperial Tyrant, Consul Flavius Silva, leads the way from Zion
The bearers of Bull and Eagle, walk proudest in pelts of Lion.
Five thousand warriors strong, wearily march the 10th legion.
To quell the rebellious, rioting, rabble, of the Jewish region.

As the sweating Romans roast, on sun baked Judean plain.
Eleazar the Zealot, contemplates the destiny of the slain.
Standing on natures rocky mountain fortress, so sky high.
Will Elohim, heavenly bless the many, that will surely die.

Fresh salty scent of Dead Sea, sweeps along the dusty vale.
Picked up on the wind, along with cries of a deathly wail.
The ten Sicarii knifes drawn, massacre their own blood.
  The crimson tide of Martyrs, turns into a apocalyptic flood.

No escape to freedom or the forever shame of defection.
Just devout faith in the afterlife, their divine resurrection.
 No slaves or possessions, for Rome's grand empirical glory.
 Hopelessness and tribulation is the tragedy of this story.

The Romans surprised by the terrible solitude of the fort.
Attacked under a unnerving silence, as fire had caught.
Battering ram broke, bursting through defences ahead.
 No pleasure or joy they found, their enemies ALL DEAD!

They wondered at the true courage of their fanatical foe.
The immovable contempt of death, the lamentable woe.
960 soul's sacrificed to a desperate, terrible suicidal end.
Testimony to freedom's cry voice, forever will they send.




 

Reviews

[Becca Bishop]

Ugh. It's very hard for me to not hate you right now. YOU'VE KILLED MY MOOD, DUDE!!! How can I be all happy and peppy and "OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS!!!!!" when I'm so jealous that I'll never be able to write as well as you can! GAHHHH!!!!!

Ok, I got most of my anger out but I'm still going to have to go menace some stuffed animals or something. But before I do that....

This poem instantly reminded me of the History of Greece and Rome class I took last year. The teacher would've loved this!!!! You've somehow managed to fit a whole lesson into a spectacular poem that rhymes no less! Amazing! I can only imagine how hard it must've been to get all these ideas and names to coexist in the same place. WHEW!!! But you pulled it off superbly. Wow.....

And you closed it perfectly too. So often I read poems that just...end. You know? It seems like something's missing, like the writer just got fed up and ended the poem so they could move on to something else. Super annoying when people don't finish their thoughts and just leave them there. It's like the except me to do more WORK and finish the poem myself!!! Can you believe it????

Great job with this one!!! Why do I even say this? It's like repeating myself over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again whenever I read something of yours. I should change it up a bit...

THIS WAS THE GREATEST!!!! THE COW SAYS MOO!!! IF COWS COULD READ, I GUARANTEE THIS WOULD BE ON THEIR FAVORITE READING MATERIALS LIST!!!! But cows can't read so you'll have to settle with me :D LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

You should add these reviews to your portfolio of work on here:)

[kublakhan27]

The latest demonstration of your mastery over this form...phenomenal poetry and storytelling^^

[Sid]

This is amazing; to be able to say so much, that too history, in rhyming verses is beyond anything I can think of. I really like the 5th stanza, must have been a somewhat bittersweet moment for the Romans when they finally broke through just to find everyone dead. Amazing work!!

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Thanks Yes an experiment for me that didnt turn out too badly

[Phantom Heart]

Amazing. My favorite line was "The crimson tide of Martyrs, turns into a apocalyptic flood."
I think that this poem is strong in verse and I like that you have written using a bit of history. I thought that something like this happened at Mt. Sinai where they found everyone dead, where they were waiting to attack. Now I have to google! Thanks for sharing.

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Its worth googling Masada is quite a piece of history.

[Barbara Walker]

Awesome! History in rhyme, great job!

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

I love reading History so thought Id have a go at a poem!

[spiritwind]

I think history is incredibly hard to put into poetry. It is not something for the less talented to do, that's for sure, especially about this particular piece of history. I was so amazed at how seamlessly you handled this--full of information but brimming with courage. Beautifully, deftly, done. I would like to read more history at your hands.

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Fee lfree to set me a challenge

[spiritwind]

one of the massacres of Native American Tribes?

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Hrrmm you know how to set an Englishman a challenge....Indians it is! Watch this space :)

[Mary]

"No pleasure or joy they found, their enemies ALL DEAD!" powerful moment in history, brought to sad life and sacrifice. Well done, JPH

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Ive been hunting around history and I havent found a story like this yet.

[quinfinn]

seems you have truly done your homework on this one as, historically, it rings true. you have taken a legend and given it new life and reminded all of their sacrifice to an act of final rebellion. beautifully written!

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

I wanted to try something a little different and went searching on wikipedia for a subject! :)

[Raven Starhawk]

It really does hit hard. I cannot explain myself to the best my ability, but this poem make me think about so much my head hurts. ^^* Actually it raised some paranoia issues within which is my fault completely. I think it was the unique vision you provoked and wielded. Either way it is a piece filled with dark angst in my opinion which isn't a bad thing. Then again I am deranged sometimes, but that still doesn't deny that this poem has raw power to stir emotion.

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Am trying to challenge my genre and step out of my comfort zone as I want my poetry to improve and step up another gear.

[khalid]

what a great nice historical poem? i love it will all the information in it

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

It was a tough challenge...