"Wandering Warrior"

I am a warrior

Though I might wish it were different

I lead a life of woe

Seeing comrades fall in battle; who can describe

The anguish I felt when those brave close friends died!

I am a wanderer

Though I would like to stay

I must travel onward

After my enemy night and day.

A wandering warrior, that is the life I lead

Perhaps one of adventure, maybe one of good deeds

Also one of sadness and woe

But the life of a wandering warrior is my fate, I know.

"Fallen Comrades"

Long-time friends

Life snatched from in battle

A comrade falls

Killed by the blow

Of the despicable foe.

Comrades dead in battles long fought

Friends who death upon foebeasts brought

Some saved our lives, mine or yours, ten times again

Some encouraged others and insisted "You can!"

Now dead on the battlefield, killed by the foe

My friends, you don't deserve this woe!

Friend, how I long to see you once again

You who never retreated and never ran

But now all I can do is keep you in my memory

And be sure that the one who killed you is dead.

"Death"

Impossible to believe

Impossible to accept

The fact that one, once so

Full of life, full of energy

Now lies, unmoving, unseeing

Not breathing

Not speaking

Dead.

"First Battle"

Young, untried, uncertain

Not a warrior yet

Ability with a weapon

But future isn't set.

Into battle the young one goes

Paws shaking with nervous fear

Arrows whizzing overhead

Blades slicing through the air.

Gathering courage, the young one

Takes aim with an arrow, lets fly

A foebeast dies with a scream

Goes down with a gurgling cry.

The young one's paws go numb

Face shocked and not believing.

Can't believe he killed another

Stunned by what he's seeing.

The sight of death is horrible

In the eyes of one so young

The taking of another's life

Is terrifying, not fun.

But then beside the young one

A goodbeast, a comrade falls

Slain by the paw of vermin

To Dark Forest the comrade is called.

Anger overcomes fear and shock

The young one charges into the fray

The young one becomes a warrior

The young one ages seasons that day.

"When a Youth Becomes a Warrior"

When a youth becomes a warrior

It is not a time for joy

For a warrior's life causes one to age quickly

To be no longer an innocent girl or boy.

When a young one becomes a warrior

Youth is taken from him

The sight of death, the taste of blood,

Killing others to win…

When a child becomes a warrior

The innocence of youth is stolen

Muffled is the laughter and joy

Of one who once played in a forest glen.

That the young would not become warriors

Would instead cling to childhood

Instead of aging far too soon

And having to cause death and draw blood.

"The Warrior is Afraid"

(NOTE: I wrote this after reading "The Warrior is a Child".)

I'm the last one you'd call weak

I'm the type you seek

In times of trouble and warfare

To go into the enemy's lair.

I'm rough, I'm tough, as hard as nails

I'm an impenetrable fort

Never venerable, never afraid

Of anything- killing, death, or the enemy sort…

That's what everybeast says.

You'd never believe that I'm weak

You'd never think I could be scared

Nobeast would ever venture to think

That behind my blade

This warrior is afraid.

Sometimes I shiver behind my helmet

At the sight of the enemy ranks

Sometimes I'm scared that I won't make it

Across war's treacherous banks.

I'm scared, I'm sad,

I go home and sob

A warrior's life isn't simple

But it's true that behind this blade

The warrior is afraid.

I'm not that old

I'm rather young

I was forced to age too fast

The weight of friends who now lie dead

Is etched into my past.

Yes, behind this blade,

The warrior is afraid.

Killing is not glamorous

Not beautiful or good

Life of any species is precious

Be it goodbeast kind or vermin rude…

My blade is stained by vermin blood.

Still, behind this blood- red blade,

The warrior is afraid.

We're not a breed apart

From the peaceful ones

We need a shoulder to cry on

Often, down my cheek, a salty tear runs

For you see, behind this blade,

The warrior is afraid.



"I Am No Warrior"

I am no warrior-

I am a fighter.

Warriors abide by a code of honor-

Do right

Be merciful

Protect the weak

Have a conscience

Let your foe have an equal chance.

I am not merciful.

I have no conscience.

I do whatever is needed to defeat my enemy.

A warrior disarms the opponent-

And lets them retrieve their weapon.

I disarm my opponent-

And then I run them through.

I admire warriors.

I envy them their honor

Their compassion

Their weaknesses that are truly strengths.

But I am not a warrior.

I am cold of heart and hard of soul

And I do unto vermin

As they do unto me.

"Warrior's Heart"

Face of stone

Standing apart

Does the warrior have a heart?

Shadowed soul

Blood-soaked blade

Is the warrior e'er afraid?

Red-veiled eyes

Storm above

Can the warrior someday know love?

Hardened heart

Battle mind

Does the warrior know how to be kind?

Chains of hate

Eyes wintry

Will the warrior e'er be free?