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Barbarossa II

As Barbarossa roars into the East.
its southern bard cut swiftly to the core.
And as it raged the slaughtering increased,
consuming any force that stood before.
His swift barrage devoured the ranks of Red
as iron divisions consummated death.
These fires from Hell engulfed what lie ahead
till all abreast had breathed a final breath.
Though devastation tore at flesh and bone 
defeat was but a glimmer in his eye, 
for Russia’s chest contained a heart of stone
and “damned those fires from Hell” was their reply.
His wolves adorned a deadly attribute.
Their appetite for prey was absolute.

Their appetite for prey was absolute
and more than just the battlefield was game.
His manifesto pledged to persecute
the fabrications, purely staged to blame.
‘Twas but a ruse to rile a wanting crowd
and gain their confidence through callow trust.
‘Twas sheer deceit, beneath its evil shroud,
that turned a world of innocence to dust.
For death knows not disparity or pride
nor gleans reward with honor or disgrace,
and war is war and Death is not denied
nor caters not to any time or place.
And now his wolves unleash into the East
and Leningrad shall be its finest feast.

And Leningrad shall be its finest feast
as all within prepare to face the strife.
Though forfeiture defies the hungry beast,
a siege denies the sustenance of life.
His iron legions seal your city gates
and slowly the atrocities begin.
And though the foe outside your door awaits,
starvation is your enemy within.
As famine stalks, each day it wants for more
but obstinance must keep the beast at bay.
Tenacity may bar him from your door
but death will always find another way.
His raging wolves continued their attacks
though fortitude withstood the vicious packs.

Though fortitude withstood the vicious packs
death was not disheartened by your will,
for it prevailed by seeping through the cracks
without contempt to satiate its fill.
While doleful days and weeks turned into years
the darkened clouds of famine take their toll.
St. Peter’s eyes filled endlessly with tears
as hope is drained from ev’ry living soul.
But still you stand against the pressing tide
as vengeance stirs within your starving bones.
‘Tis but an angst that will not be denied
and grinds the edge of ev’ry sword it hones.
Your walls holdfast though still the devil preys
as destitution filled the waning days.

As destitution filled the waning days.
another barb had sought the ursine heart.
Its scarlet walls would glisten in the haze
as wolves prepared to rip the Square apart.
Her silhouette lies gilded in the wake,
to subjugate would make His war complete.
Though hungry wolves lie waiting for their take
her Crimson heart refused to skip a beat.
A heart of steel would stall the roaring wave
for preparation left them fortified.
Embraced within were nothing but the brave
and any prod to forfeit was denied.
With hell afront and Satan at their back,
a new command would counter the attack.

Copyright © Mark Massey

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Book: Reflection on the Important Things