The Last Hero

I wrote this in contribution to a book of poetry for the British actor Tom Hiddleston who I'm a big admirer of. So completely inspired by him.

The Last Hero

 

Alone.

With naught but the clothes on his back,

And the weapons at his side.

Through the unrelenting rain,

Biting sleet and icy snow.

Against the roaring winds,

Beneath the sweltering sun.

With blistered feet, burnt skin

Cracked lips and parched tongue.

His face battered by the elements,

And etched by scars of the past.

He walks, on and on.

 

Always alone.

His brothers long gone

Where he cannot follow.

He does not grieve,

But thrives upon their memories

Driving him ever on.

A son, a brother, a lover

But denied ever to be a father.

His face once rippled in abundant joy,

His laughter ringing clear.

Now silent and still,

Echoes of happier days.

 

Forever alone.

Tall with rigid, trained muscle.

Piercing blue eyes, fierce

Hiding soft melting compassion.

Tattoos in many tongues,

Crawl up his arms and encircle his throat.

In the time of the ancients,

He was worshipped as a god.

In the tales of knights and chivalry,

Hailed a king.

In the torrent and destruction of war,

He stood a soldier.

 

Journeying alone.

The man with a forgotten name.

Surrounded by whispers of untold pasts,

Age shall not weary him.

Many follow, at a distance,

Treading in his footsteps

Drawn to him,

But he does not lead.

They know none like him

And so fear him.

He is both safety and danger,

The light and the dark.

 

Standing alone.

Before a multitude of enemies,

He draws his sword.

Twirling lightly in his grasp,

The steel flashing in the sunlight.

The ink on his arms vivid,

The words becoming clear,

One word, Believe.

He advances, unafraid.

And does not flinch

When blood spatters his face.

He is lost among them.

 

Victorious alone.

They see him,

Breathing heavily

Baptised in the blood of his foes.

Crows peck persistently at the bodies

Strewn torn about him.

No look of triumph upon his face,

But a glazed nonchalance.

He nods to them, wipes clean his sword,

Re-sheaths it, turns and walks away,

Fading over the horizon.

The skies thunder and it begins to rain.

 

Huddled alone,

I watch him leave.

We are saved

Because of him.

Yet he hears no word of thanks from us.

He terrifies us,

Even in his glory and our salvation.

My eyes burn with tears,

Consumed with sadness and regret.

He will never stop.

For his work is never done.

This is his sacrifice, his curse, his duty, his legacy…

 

　

　

He is the last.

Last of the great warriors

To battle for mankind.

He is destined to fight on, alone.

To lead humanity from the darkness,

Like so many before him;

A beacon of hope in the abyss of despair.

He will never complain,

Nor challenge his fate,

Though he will never know true peace or rest,

Nor feel the warmth and comfort of another,

Ever again.

 

He is the first,

Out ahead, showing us the way.

He does not seek to kill or destroy,

But to inspire belief and faith,

In a world abandoned in shadow.

He is the shining star,

The last glimpse of hope,

The final chance of self-redemption

Before the end.

He is the Last Hero.

And I believe, I have faith and I will follow.

But I am alone.

Reviews

[Wolven]

You should write this sort of thing more often. Poetry that is an appreciation of someone not themselves or that which tells such a story is rarely ever done nowadays from what I can tell.
Taking a step back and looking at someone else, to be able to tell these stories in poetic form is a true art I think, one that you seem to handle very well. :) I love all the references to Loki in this.
Bravo.

[Milady_Alice_Clare]

Thanks, I did love writing it. Much appreciated

[Jordiney]

very inspiring ! it made my heart flatter very organized and beautifully done!

[Milady_Alice_Clare]

Thanks for reading, and appreciate your comments :)

[Rose Kavanagh]

Beautiful imagery - and I love Tom Hiddleston too! I also like the repetition of the word "alone" at the beginning of each stanza. Great work! :)

[Milady_Alice_Clare]

Woohoo for Tom! Thanks for reading :)