"Traveler's Tale IV"

This is another Traveler's Tale submitted by John since his interview...   - poetheart 08/07/01

There is something 'bout a rifle ball-
Whistling past your ear-
Which turns the blood to water,
And makes you cringe in fear.

They're but a coward's weapon,
A pox that they've been made-
Take me back to days of yore...
When men lived by the blade.

When all that stood twixt men and doom
Was steel, as cold as death-
And blood, and guts...and gritted teeth-
And shouts and labored breath-

The clash of arms, the battle cries-
The kiss of razor blade-
To speed one on the path to hell-
Where warriors beds are made.

Far closer than a favored tart
The blade hung at his side-
And dearer far, to warriors heart
Than brother, or his bride.

When sword and shield did rule the field
And warriors did not quail-
But fought and died, sword by their side-
Thus goes the Traveler's Tale.

by John R. Yaws

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