Sections of time melting away,
Tearless eyes seeming to say
I cannot be hurt, I will not bleed
Although the truth is easy to read
Once a fierce warrior, now fallen
The only rule to battle, not all can win
His mighty sword, broken and lost
Once he possessed a heart of fire, now frost
Broken will, shattered dreams
All is lost, so it seems
On the darkest of nights, hallowest of eves,
Visitors seek the warrior rustling the leaves
The warrior stands up unwilling to fight
Outside stand three warriors in the misty night
One calls his name but he shows no fear
“If you are expecting a challenge, you will not find it here,
I am not the warrior I was in the past,
My courage and strength, for long, did not last”
One calls to him, “if your spirit is lost you will surely die”
The three warriors look fierce, unbeatable to his eye
Fear and envy rage, he wishes he could be more like them
Beaten before starting, this night, to him, looks grim
A wolf cries in the distance, the wind wildly shrieks
To him, he is sure it is death now he greets
Raising his guard, lowering his head, he steps out
The night is cold against his skin, he starts the bout
His quickness is slow, but he knocks one to the ground
He follows him down and snaps his neck with a cracking sound
With swords not yet drawn, the other two attack with might
Blows exchange blows, these warriors are too strong to fight
The last two warriors he will kill, this in his mind he sets
Beaten badly he still stands, the sword of the dead warrior he gets
The warriors pull their swords and engage him
Their skill is great, he will need more strength to win
He summons all his strength, the fire inside burns bright
He strikes one to the chest, only one more to fight
The one left is the strongest of all three
His skills and strength are great, damn, I wish I were he
Blood spills on both sides, but no one gives in
Both giving their best, for only one will win
Blade meets blade, as iron meets stone
The night turns red, as the final blow is thrown
The last warrior falls, losing this fight
The once fallen warrior’s spirit is rekindled this night
Battle beaten and tired he sits down in the grass
Now he has regained his self, this time it will last
He sees with his eyes the three dead warriors start to rise
He stands quickly, what black magic has kept them from their demise?
Healed, without wounds, the three walk closer to him
He pulls his sword, stands his ground, fear spreads within
He beat them once, he feels that he will beat them again
The three dead warrior, swords sheathed, they too know he would win
They stand before him, they speak his name once more
“We are ancient warriors of an ancient Lore,
We died in battle long ago, our fires bright until the end
Your fire would have died before its time, it, we had to mend”
He asked the three, “why my fire to mend from beyond the grave?”
“Young warrior” one replied, “it is our family honor we save,
For I am your grandfather’s grandfather, young warrior you see,
This is my grandfather’s grandfather, and so on is he”
He sees the oldest ancestor was the strongest of all three
Twelve generations back his family was strong indeed
The young warrior descends to his knees in respect of ancestors of his
“Great now is your strength young warrior, greater than ours, it is
We leave this earth once more, keep our family strong
It is your responsibility now, bear us no wrong
You will too leave this earth one day, honor you will earn
If another member falters, to this earth you will return”
He watches as his ancestors disappear into the mist, out of sight
The young warrior lays back to gaze at the stars, again alone with the night
About Grant Elliot Smith
Originally from Pendleton, Indiana, Grant loved to read from an early age. Saving up his allowance, he spent it all at the local bookstore buying up as much as he could from the fantasy section. Writing has always been a passion of his. His first interest was poetry, which he wrote voraciously. Some of his early work from as far back as the 1980’s can be found in various poetry anthologies.
Completing four university degrees, including a Masters in Sociology from the University of Essex in Colchester, England, Grant has lived and worked around the world, spending a number of those years in Japan. The sights and sounds from the various cultures he has seen help to fuel his imagination for writing. A corporate attorney by trade, Grant has published various legal articles and papers. However, when not working, he loves to escape in the world of fantasy and the paranormal.
Visit Grant at his website www.grantelliotsmith.com!
The Inkwell And Quill 