A/N: I felt like something a bit different.
Death does accompany this man, adherent, though, not friend. A tool at times, but never loved, a means to bitter end.
There is a wall on Coruscant, black marble, smooth and cold.
There is a wall on Coruscant, two thousand steps, all told.
There is a wall on Coruscant, framed by eternal flames.
There is a wall on Coruscant that bears a million names.
A million names cut into stone, a million men are dead.
A single name is missing there, just one remains unread.
Two thousand steps he walks along, to pay his last respects.
The sole survivor, he's the one that Death always rejects.
He parts the masses milling there, the gawkers drawing back,
The mourners he just passes by, a wraith clad all in black.
The memories that haunt their minds, they follow in his wake,
Reflections staring from the stone, they paid for pride's mistake.
He cannot say he grieves for all, some did deserve no less.
But countless lives were squandered there, the Emp'ror to impress.
He halts where few will read the names, where lowest ranks abound,
The specters growing stronger here, his own mind fertile ground.
Gauntleted fingers touch the stone, reflection reaches back,
A timeless moment passes by, black resting against black.
Then on he goes, two thousand steps he walks along the wall,
Ranks do not matter anymore, his presence honors all.
Some tens of thousands mourners walk along that wall, each day,
And of those thousands some may scream or cry, in their dismay.
But most will mutely touch a name – or two, if fate was cruel,
Their own reflections staring back, from stone lifeless and cool.
There is a wall on Coruscant, black marble, smooth and cold.
There is a wall on Coruscant, two thousand steps, all told.
There is a wall on Coruscant, framed by eternal flames.
There is a wall on Coruscant that bears a million names.
There is a wall on Coruscant, they call the Wall of Death.
A/N: One of my most favorite depictions of Lord Vader is Deathstar Reflections, by WiL-Woods, which can be found at Deviantart. Awesome picture, which inspired these lines.
Let's not forget, however, that the total death count of that particular film was much, much higher ….
There is no wall on Alderaan, just space dust, dark and cold.
There is no wall on Alderaan, nor ground that could one hold.
There is no wall on Alderaan, a world gone up in flames.
There is no wall on Alderaan, to bear two billion names.
Two billion names cast into dust, two billion people dead.
A handful bear the memories, the farewells left unsaid.
Some do return to the remains, to pay their last respects,
Each wondering why they have been the one that Death rejects.
They brave the debris tumbling there, they make their lone way back,
To leave a token of their love, amidst the silent black.
The memories that haunt their minds, they follow in their wake,
Reflections of the past to guard, the future theirs to make.
One cannot say there's grief for all, some did deserve no less.
But countless lives were slaughtered here, the Emp'ror to impress.
Thus, most are missed and dearly so, soft memories abound,
The specters grow so strong in here, a whole world's burial mound.
Uncounted fingers reach for home, reflection reaches back,
Lives are recalled and loves affirmed that died in the attack.
A hopeless task as it might seem – two billions to recall –
Numbers don't matter anymore, the living honor all.
Some hundred thousand mourners take this voyage home, some day.
And of those thousands some may scream or cry, in their dismay.
But most will speak their loved ones' names, to whom fate was so cruel,
Their own reflections staring back, or stones, lifeless and cool.
There is no wall on Alderaan, just space dust, dark and cold.
There is no wall on Alderaan, nor ground that could one hold.
There is no wall on Alderaan, a world gone up in flames.
There is no wall on Alderaan, to bear two billion names.
There is no wall on Alderaan, to call the Wall of Death.
A/N: Doesn't quite fit in here, I know, but it's a matched pair, and the first one does.