Timeless Moments

In those last timeless moments
When the clashing of swords
And the clanging of armor
Echoed over the mixed voices of angry men
Roaring and screaming
Fighting and dying
On the rolling green fields,
I thought myself immortal
Amongst mortal enemies

With each swing of my sword,
I felled another foe,
His morale the first to go,
Then his pride,
Then his life.
His face screwed in pain and agony;
His youth and inexperience
Pouring out of the open wound
I left upon his body

I felt no guilt or remorse
As the boy fell to his knees
Trying to hold onto the steaming blood
That splattered upon the cold grass
Mising with the morning dew.

He was but a man with whom I disagreed.
He was but a mortal
With whom I have no commonness
He is dead and I still live.

I wade through the stench, the gore, the action
The earth grows slippery
The footing grows treacherous
Once again I face a man full of anger and hate
He lunges, I parry
I swing, he blocks

He roars, I yell
I curse, he threatens
I am glad to find a challenge among the mortals
I will be proud to slay this man

***

In those last timeless moments
My reality was shattered by a single thrust
Through the pain I gazed up into his face

I saw a man immortal
A stranger who I recognize
He stands there arms raised
In victory and pride
His guard is down,
But my strength is gone
And he knows it
He reviles in my helplessness

But I see in him a man I knew
Both nieve and foolish
Now I am old and wise
Aging with every blood-letting second
Knowing that I was once immortal just as he
Knowing that soon or late, he will be as I
Just as I am like the others
Watching the ground rise to meet a pain filled face

***

In these last timeless moments
I watch my misty breath
Mingle with the morning dew
It felt good to be immortal
But I would have gladly given it up
If only I had known this painful price

5/24/88