The Soldier's Death

The Soldier’s Death

I always thought Death would be a woman,
Graced in silken, shining white,
Bones visible through her garments,
Her embrace my final night.
I thought her kiss would be the scythe
Which pierced my heart, which ended the fight
That I had fought for every day
Until her dance would change my sway.
But vision of visions, I saw a cold star,
Which led me to my death.

I died for my dearest of friends.
On the battlefield, in strife,
I saw him defenseless,
But I bore the knife,
Inside my flesh
That had been meant for him.
I left my life
For the sake of a man.
I left my wife
For the sake of a whim.

And as I passed the world and fell,
I saw the friend I had defended killed.
On the battlefield, scores of men,
Joined once in life now joined again.

We remembered old lives,
We mourned for our weeping wives,
But we saw a star,
Once faded, now not far.
We followed the star,
It was the tunnel to peace
And through it was the key
To a world without wars:
Eternity.