The Time Has Come, Our Destiny Awaits

Behold the enemy before our gates
Who deign to slit our throats like sheep this day.
The time has come; our destiny awaits.
We kill or die. There is no other way.

Beside us stand our wives and family
Whose fate, along with ours, is joined as one.
For if we falter, they will never see
Again, the rising of another sun.

The trumpet sounds, we stand as one to fight;
With thrust of spear and pike, with steel and stone,
With sweep of sword and taut-strung arrow’s flight
Our foes shall reap the evil they have sown.

E’en unto death, give all you have to give,
Yet do not fight to die, but fight to live.

September 22, 2020
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Lawless Avatar
September 26, 2020 at 5:32 AM
Really well done James with a final couplet that cements the entreaty in the hearts of the combatants. thanks for entering the contest
Rodrigues Avatar
September 25, 2020 at 7:23 PM
Love the 3rd verse! Congratulations, James!
Webster Avatar
September 25, 2020 at 11:11 AM
Congratulations james
Fowler Avatar
September 25, 2020 at 8:49 AM
The trumpet sounds-great. I agree with Wendy about the third stanza. Congratulations on the placement! Linda
Tweedie Avatar
September 22, 2020 at 6:08 PM
Thank you, Wendy. I wrote this poem this morning after reading one of the PoetrySoup contest challenges. The sonnet does not particularly reflect my own views on conflict and war but serves as an imaginary response to the requirements of the contest. I'm glad you liked it.
Watson Avatar
September 22, 2020 at 12:40 PM
James, the very rhythm and sentiment of the title drew me in to read your poem and the interest continued to the end. I enjoyed the whole sonnet with its perfect rhythmic flow and thought-provoking content but I found the third verse particularly impressive.
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