The Morass

Forever stretching in the distance All-consuming is the morass Sucking at the marching boots Hiding from view the bodies of fallen brothers Forever stretching in the distance Caps poke above stacked sandbags Staring at rifletips across the way As faithful brothers fall into the morass Thunderclaps from cannons, perched on both sides Echoing deep into the morass, heard no more Shooting harm, meant for brothers across the way Impact shoves and pushes, ‘til they slump to the morass Screams echo no further from the farther valley Cut off in one crescendoing boom A team of a few behind a cannon, fires as one Screams begin again; no one is spared Among the booming echoes and crescendoing screams Silence spreads, from low in the valley, spreading on high Silence spreads, conquered by a new form of thunder Making a debut among the bodies of fallen soldiers Light floods the sunken mounds and weary eyes Vultures take flight, seeking only to flee and hide Owls take their place perching on shoulders Soldiers look towards enemies, light spreading through eyes Upon the strong backs and pounding hooves Stirring the cannon fire and rifle shot A message is heard to all who listen And to all who care, reaching even the faithful Rifles are put downwards, cannons allowed to go silent Knives, bayonets, and pistols, set down on the morass Sinking deeper and deeper downwards Until they rest, with brothers faithful and fallen