Promptly 4, 5 and 6

At Close of Day

At Close of Day

It is expected that we fight to stay,
to stand at bay as the evening shadows
gather in the rays of our dying day
and suffer the final slings and arrows.

And yet I am not moved bravely to say
that I will battle to the last with you,
a mercenary still and wanting pay,
as if the war did not concern me too.

The temptation being to say thee nay,
so to end the burdens and the striving,
because so desperate has been this way,
toward an end my exhaustion driving.


Line count: 12
Rhymed abab
For Promptly Poetry Challenge, Week 25
Prompt: Use these words in your poem, Day, Way, Say, Stay, Bay, Pay.