" ELSPETH " Warrior of God.....

Even her very name, ELSPETH, meant "Chosen by God"
She had to stop and pray a moment for today her sword was broad
The sight itself struck Elspeth, like a brooding blast of blood
She gaped at what she'd done in disbelief, amidst the bloodied mud
As if it were inconceivable, unendurable, her shoulders sagged
Her heart was divided over what she'd done, and what she had ,to do
The field was littered with hundreds of bleeding soldiers crying
But God had spoken to her, "You must kill them even as they lay dying!"
She seemed to lack the language for what she felt and saw
Her entire Army's eyes were upon her, in gratitude and AWE
She looked out toward the one man she had considered the true Hater
Her lips fumbled over meaningless whimpers, of those that underestimated her
She saw the cause of all of this, crawling, dying, crying toward her
She composed herself, moved slowly unsheathing a silver knife
In her mind she kept reliving the heads and arms falling and denying
That the blood soaked field of battle was a river of bloody death
And that the sword of God was not a legend, but a blade of God's behest
Elspeth's gaze grew steely, as she knelt in front of the dying man
She raised a jewel encrusted Silver blade, with both hands above her head
And in a swift forgiving motion ,she drove it deep into his head
The whole front of her Golden armor, was bloodied and glowing crimson
All of this had been accomplished with a loss of just one division
Her enormous Army began to cheer, a cheer of religious victory
She gripped the knife, but the movement drew a gasp, painfully
She drew it and stood, swiftly wiping and sheathing her holy knife
She addressed her men thusly; ""Tis a sin to take a life,
but when in the service of God's good and noble worth,
we fight for victory, and someday Peace on Earth!!"
Her legions bowed in honor as she strode between them without a sound
She mounted her Silver Steed, felt the whisper of God's breath........"Proud!"
And stormed into the distance, followed by a silver cloud.......

Tony Taylor  (Chicago)