On Entering the Fray - Mag 160

Faun, Horse and Bird 1936 - Pablo Picasso

On Entering the Fray

The three come to the precipice

But only one looks down.

Another sneers and rears on back

Foot pawing at the ground –

A heady height, this mountain ledge -

Air thin and views obscured

Should they proceed on further

Ambitious, glory-lured ?

One faints with fear and gasps

A plea to stay below the fray

The other stamps and pushes on

Inpatient with delay

And one stoops low to contemplate

The nature of these wayfarers

A grasp at fate, a swoon and faint

He turns aside for prayer –

Let truth arise and fly up free

As we confront this day

Let all the froth of anger

In this blue be washed away.

Let meekness overcome the wrath

Of mighty tyrant's roar

And peace come to that valley

As it was, let it be more

And so they turn, rise on up

Turn back to hero’s chase

One eager, one with trepidation

The last with inner grace.

Each will earn a hero’s wreath

All in their ordered way

I wonder which one I might be

Were I present on that day ?

3/20/13 - edits, to follow

Note: Some awkward lines still need work here … but this piece fell together, as I contemplated the nature of war and battle and confronting fears and pushing limits. The classic nature of the image reminded me of the romantic and sometimes lyrical (?) nature of the poetry of the 19^th century soldiers, hence the rhyme and rhythm of the piece. 

This piece joins others submitted to Tess's weekly writing circle over at The Mag - pop over and see what others are sharing.