A Specter Speaks To War

Smoke rising from the ground Obscures the pools of blood Where soldiers uttering sounds Lie dying in the mud. Horses neighing, running scared In horror find no end Of battleground that's shared The crimson life of men. A bugle lies still tightly clenched In fingers cold as night Plays no melody to those entrenched Of retreat, or for respite. For, no living remain to claim in combat law A victory lost in death, it was an even draw. A specter slowly forming new In horror looks around through eyes Obscured of light, now palest blue Emits a mournful cry, "Oh why?" Just then, with laughter heard afar Dressed in mail of shining armor Come to claim his spoils, stood War In all his might and glamor! "Surely thou jest?" War asked "To question such a thing For its from your very own task That I came here this evening!" "From hate and fear you have campaigned And now you dare to stand and complain?" "'T was you and they who disagreed Finding no peaceful way Did bring your grievances to me To finalize this day!" "But not like this!" the specter pleads "To utter shame and cost? We came to you for victory Not death and total loss!" "You've fooled us to believe this day That your quick intervention Would be the most successful way Of our enemies prevention!" "You Scoundrel!" the specter shouts in rage "You should be locked up in a cage!" "You back both sides, and then Not caring for either side You hide conveniently within Till battle sounds subside!" "You're a terrible thing once done A death robe once you're shod You must surely fear someone Perhaps you fear some god?" Then spoke War abruptly, "Nay!" "I fear not the deities For even they disagree and say 'Let War settle our proprieties!" The specter in retort then sneers "Surely something gives you cause to fear!" "Some force of nature, or of man Some force that when unleashed Doth undermine your smug stance You must certainly fear peace!" War then shouts, "I fear her?" "She who flees before my wake? Why, she's just a cuddled kitten's purr A thing that men when cuddled make!" Then in silent pause the ghost Began to laugh with glee Which silenced War his host A most worthy sight to see! The specter replied, "You'll never stop, and in so doing When all is lost you'll be your own damn ruin!" The specter vanished with a scream Awakening me from my sleep Relieved to realize 't was just a dream I sighed, trying not to weep. Then, looking at the foot of my bed I froze from lack of breath To see that self same ghost no less Returned once more from death! With a gasp my heart stopped Then he, while hovering overhead Pointed to where my head was propped At the head of my trembling bed! Then grabbing my foot with icy cold caress Hissed this warning...."BEWARE, BEWARE," "THE FOOL!... But more his foolishness!" And then he vanished in thin air!!! Timothy I. Brumley