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:)

[Enid Blake]

This was an ambitious subject to create poetry around, I can only commend you for it ;)

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

It was a tough one to nut out I must say.

[deepblue04]

I like how you incorporate history into your work. the picture is amazing!

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Great view :)

[Stanley Wilson]

great historical piece

[Nicky Sarti]

Oooo.... Stunning pictures; beautiful words, a little history to keep me ticking over ~ could you be any more perfect Mister?
Brilliant as always, really liked this too!

[Mauricio Montoya]

Wow a little history, different but interesting. Nice work.

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Yeah thought Id have a change....

[Larry Dyson]

hey John are you commemorating actual Jewish life events?..very good write !

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Thought id have a go at something a bit different and challenging.

[gombeggar]

interesting rememberance...hmm...what a choice subject matter u made

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Yeah it was a bit out the ball park...

[gombeggar]

nicely worded though

[PublishingAgent]

You really are knocking out some real full on poems at the moment John.

I hope all the Writing Therapy is working for you, wont be long and you can forget the dreadful year you've had and 2013 is the chance to rebuild!

Keep up the good work on here and else where....dont forget hope....its got you this far my friend.

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

X

[lothlorienwriter]

Oh damn and blast! Youve done it again and a change in direction too with this poem!! A difficult subject to address let alone rhyme!!

Am quite knowledgeable about Masada it must be said and can find no fault in this poem as a historical piece. I do believe there where 7 survivors but according to their account the Sicarii left them to their own fate, as they were not part of the Zealot group. They hid in some caves just outside if I remember rightly and told the Romans of the terrible massacre.

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

Well i never knew that, in truth I wrote the poem based on what I read on Wikipedia.