The moon is full and the fog swirls
Long slender fingers stretching forth
Reaching out to bind us together
Not a sound in the night
Nary a move do we make
As we wait and watch the other
A breeze pushes the leaves of the tree
The soft sound breaking into the quiet
Nary a move do we make
As we wait and watch the other
A breeze pushes the leaves of the tree
The soft sound breaking into the quiet
Poised and ready, we two prepare
As we stand facing across time itself
A great expanse our differences make
Ready to do battle but once more
What could possibly come of our meeting
Will it end as before, so matched we are
Unsatisfying to both or will bring finality
Coiled to spring, for a moment in time
We hold still, counting the seconds
And then… we’re on the move
As we stand facing across time itself
A great expanse our differences make
Ready to do battle but once more
What could possibly come of our meeting
Will it end as before, so matched we are
Unsatisfying to both or will bring finality
Coiled to spring, for a moment in time
We hold still, counting the seconds
And then… we’re on the move
~~~
Circling one another, watching closely
Looking for a space, any opening will do
A chink in the armor of the other
The tiniest thing can be an advantage
Closer and closer to the other we get
To get within arms reach – and strike!
Metal against metal, a flurry of movement
The motions smooth, this dance to the death
Well practiced we are, having been here before
Strike and parry, retreating and advancing
Back and forth, no one gains and no one loses
Evenly matched as always, this we knew
Having been here before, we know the other
For brothers we are by our blood and birth
But enemies we’ve become for one woman’s love
In this it will be the spoils to the victor
And only a very harsh end awaits the loser
Something neither of us is willing to face
Looking for a space, any opening will do
A chink in the armor of the other
The tiniest thing can be an advantage
Closer and closer to the other we get
To get within arms reach – and strike!
Metal against metal, a flurry of movement
The motions smooth, this dance to the death
Well practiced we are, having been here before
Strike and parry, retreating and advancing
Back and forth, no one gains and no one loses
Evenly matched as always, this we knew
Having been here before, we know the other
For brothers we are by our blood and birth
But enemies we’ve become for one woman’s love
In this it will be the spoils to the victor
And only a very harsh end awaits the loser
Something neither of us is willing to face
~~~
With determination we continue on
Our blades singing in the night air
Every swing but a hairbreadth away
From an exposed limb or vulnerable throat
One solid thrust could end this anytime
Our breathing coming faster now
Back and forth, round and round
Circling, waiting, thrust, parry and feint
When first blood is drawn, we both pause
Only to continue faster and harder then before
It’s like a signal that we are almost done
Soon the winner will lay claim to the girl…
Our blades singing in the night air
Every swing but a hairbreadth away
From an exposed limb or vulnerable throat
One solid thrust could end this anytime
Our breathing coming faster now
Back and forth, round and round
Circling, waiting, thrust, parry and feint
When first blood is drawn, we both pause
Only to continue faster and harder then before
It’s like a signal that we are almost done
Soon the winner will lay claim to the girl…
~~~
Neither of us lets the thought of a loss throw us
To think like that is to let the death blow fall
Standing arms outstretched with nary a protest
Closing ones eyes and praying to the Heavens
Asking for forgiveness from your maker
At that moment the blade slides in deep…
Another hit, another advance and withdrawal
Both are beginning to slow, fatigue setting in
The battle weighs heavy and muscles tire
Movements begin to slow down, our grace fails us
Swings are choppy and wild, no longer smooth
Wild and wider, one misstep is all it will take
Suddenly a burning pain erupts in my chest
Looking down I see the cause oh so clearly
He’s run me through, the blade horrifyingly deep
His hand, griping it tight, is covered in my blood
A look of shock and dismay on his face, he lets go
A stumbling step back, a prayer on his lips
To think like that is to let the death blow fall
Standing arms outstretched with nary a protest
Closing ones eyes and praying to the Heavens
Asking for forgiveness from your maker
At that moment the blade slides in deep…
Another hit, another advance and withdrawal
Both are beginning to slow, fatigue setting in
The battle weighs heavy and muscles tire
Movements begin to slow down, our grace fails us
Swings are choppy and wild, no longer smooth
Wild and wider, one misstep is all it will take
Suddenly a burning pain erupts in my chest
Looking down I see the cause oh so clearly
He’s run me through, the blade horrifyingly deep
His hand, griping it tight, is covered in my blood
A look of shock and dismay on his face, he lets go
A stumbling step back, a prayer on his lips
~~~
To my knees I fall, my limbs having gone numb
A scream from the dark, she’s witnessed my demise
On my side I tumble, to stare up as they embrace
A kiss for the hero and nothing for the fallen
Remember me brother, fondly now and again
For you were the only who could and did beat me
Darkness approaches, my vision blurs slowly
A soft hand upon my face gentle and pure
Her voice, like that of an angel, calling my name
“Hear me now, the brother who has fallen
Had you won, you never would have claimed me
For my heart and soul belong only to the other
May you find some peace, wherever you go
But know I will not think of you again
For like your body, you are dead to me”
So the Fates have gotten their way once again
She is lost to me now and for forever more
I lay dying for a girl, but not the one I thought I knew
A scream from the dark, she’s witnessed my demise
On my side I tumble, to stare up as they embrace
A kiss for the hero and nothing for the fallen
Remember me brother, fondly now and again
For you were the only who could and did beat me
Darkness approaches, my vision blurs slowly
A soft hand upon my face gentle and pure
Her voice, like that of an angel, calling my name
“Hear me now, the brother who has fallen
Had you won, you never would have claimed me
For my heart and soul belong only to the other
May you find some peace, wherever you go
But know I will not think of you again
For like your body, you are dead to me”
So the Fates have gotten their way once again
She is lost to me now and for forever more
I lay dying for a girl, but not the one I thought I knew
~~~
With a ragged sigh I accept what is to come next
As my eyes close and my breath rattles sharply
Every pull is now such a struggle, so very hard
Then I shed a tear for what has come and gone
It slides from beneath my lid, down my cooling cheek
A tiny warm trail of remembrance of the youth no more
Once proud and strong, now lays broken and weary
The breeze at least touches me with love and care
Death approaches, ever silent and ever steady
This ends my dance with love and I go willingly
Into his cold embrace I step as we begin to move
Away from pain and grand disappointments
We move in the movements that are older then time
And I take the steps as if I’d always known them
As Death takes the lead in my final dance…
As my eyes close and my breath rattles sharply
Every pull is now such a struggle, so very hard
Then I shed a tear for what has come and gone
It slides from beneath my lid, down my cooling cheek
A tiny warm trail of remembrance of the youth no more
Once proud and strong, now lays broken and weary
The breeze at least touches me with love and care
Death approaches, ever silent and ever steady
This ends my dance with love and I go willingly
Into his cold embrace I step as we begin to move
Away from pain and grand disappointments
We move in the movements that are older then time
And I take the steps as if I’d always known them
As Death takes the lead in my final dance…
~~~
To use this piece in any portion or the entirety without the expressed written permission of the author (me) legal action will be taken.
