March Winds

March Winds

Precocious, arrogantly smiling,
By the Ides of March, they rule;

The fortress alone, sleepless, ready --
Battle-ragèd, battened down;

Eerily, jauntingly, dominant,
Dawn comes down with a whistle;

A 'vancing wave of slicing lances,
Like a call to arms, coming;

Destruction spares none, nothing remains,
Cutting through, into, among;

Soundlessly now, the end is nearing,
Walls shake, foundations whimper;

Rising to repell every charge,
Battered prayers, despairing;

For the month-long battle ceases not;
From whence does strength daily come?

With calming sunlight, caressing,
Sudden end, the dead depart;

Stands tall, the ravaged bleeding fortress,
Wounded, where whips of wind struck;

Jubilant Evil, the Victor laughs,
Whirling 'way, victorious;

Like sharp March Winds, he forever comes;
Battle's lost ~ I'll fight again.

© ACG
04 March 2006