A Clash of Will and Strength

Fields of dull grass, stretching wide

Grey clouds overhead, between calm and storm

The grim chill as though something had died

Wind blowing in shapeless form

But bright sapphire and crimson trees

Stand, ringing these rolling hills

Their leaves shake in the nippy breeze

Those leaves that seem like dresses’ frills

The colored trees stand out stark

Against the dullness of these fields

As well as the uniforms of those who hark

To this place without their shields

Like the leaves, they have so many bright shades

Those who travel in packs of their own

Small groups on lonely parades

Each with those whose same colors are shown

Their faces grim, their features hard

They speak little and only with their friends

Soon enough their bodies will be jarred

In a contest on which much depends

Eyes betray that which they know

The fear that grips each man’s heart

But will not in his actions show

For with his friends he will not part

Alone together paradoxically describes

How each group avoids others

Like roving little colored tribes

The wind and cold all humor smothers

Some anticipate, other avoid

Yet soon enough the time is here

When all are either eager or cloyed

When they must stand and face the cheer

They stand, soldiers awaiting the charge

A gun goes off with a crack

They rush forward, a large

Mass of men, a rainbow pack

In agony, they’re thrown together

Some surpassing their fellows

While a crowd forms in that November weather

“Onward harder,” that crowd bellows

It is both brief and long

That blister of time, which in perspective

Seems to onlookers but a short song

But to participants eternity prospective

The rises and dips rush up to meet

Those who painfully fly

And lose companions in the heat

Of the moments in which they want to die

Soon though, it is all past

A memory that cannot be tasted

A brief moment that forever seemed to last

When will was spent and strength was wasted

For some the end is relief

A happiness and satisfaction

While for others a cause of grief

Is the failure that came of their action

There was much pain on that day

Both victory and defeat in that place

Some wept while others did say

Hooray for that cross country race