Image by ChatGPT
The Sunday Whirl presents twelve words for us to use in a creative writing piece.
This weeks words are:
hollow clawing bruised broken spell spiralling fog halo bound trace dragon crimson
Poets & Storytellers invite us to use the word "torch".
The Warriors
Bruised but not broken,
Sword drawn, shield raised,
The warriors stand defiant.
The field of battle crimson with blood,
A spell in the battle permits reflection.
It is not for the warriors to pick the fight
They are bound by the hollow dreams
Of distant leaders. Drawn into the spiralling
Fog of ego fuelled aspirations, to conquer
Foreign lands, green and inviting.
Do they feel remorse, a trace of regret,
As they fight for a cause not their own?
These warriors deal in a clawing, ugly world,
They give full loyalty to the dragon,
No harps and haloes await them.
◊
“The Warriors” offers a powerful and unfiltered look at the reality of war, stripping away any illusion of glory. Instead of heroic triumph, the poem highlights the burden placed on soldiers - fighters who do not choose their battles but are sent by leaders chasing "hollow dreams." The "spiralling fog" reflects the confusion and manipulation surrounding war, while "foreign lands, green and inviting" show how conquest is never as noble as it seems, always marked by violence and loss.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes this poem truly impactful is the contrast between the warriors' resilience and their lack of control. They stand strong, bruised but unbroken, yet their fate is dictated by others. The final lines are especially haunting - these warriors will find no harps and halos, only the scars of battle, both seen and unseen.
You masterfully capture the harsh truth of war, leaving the reader with a deep sense of reflection, sorrow, and respect. Thank you for your fantastic use of the Sunday Whirl's 12 words to bring such a powerful vision to life. Enjoyed reading as always.
Thank you. As always the words carried me along. I changed the title from The Warriors to The Torch Bearers, to fit in with the P&S prompt.
DeleteI understand and respect your decision to change the title. 'The Warriors' had a raw, direct power, while 'The Torch Bearers' feels more abstract and symbolic. It shifts the focus slightly - from the soldiers themselves to a broader idea of duty and legacy. Both work in their own way, but the original title carried such strength! Either way, your words remain just as powerful.
DeleteYou are right. Changed it back.
DeleteOur titles are almost a 'Snap'! But our content is vey much the opposite. Nevertheless, I like what you are saying. It's clear that our basic values are similar; we're just looking at them from opposite directions in this instance.
ReplyDeleteYes. I seem to be in a bleak phase at the present.
Delete"Art has always been more than just colours on a canvas, words on a page, or notes in a melody - it is a reflection of the artist’s inner world. Every brushstroke, verse, or chord carries traces of the emotions that shaped it." M.L.
Deletenice weaving of words
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteYour poem speaks truth about those who just become cannon fodder in "someone else's" war...also those who return and are haunted by PTSD and other trauma...in a world where no one signs up to fight, maybe this nasty business of war will finally end.
ReplyDeleteIf only, Rajani, if only.
DeleteYour poem is intense and thought-provoking. I can feel the emotion and struggle behind their actions. The image of the battlefield and the dark motivations stands out to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWe all warriors of sorts....each fighting to survive in a world overflowing with ignorance; hoping prejudices, hate, and violence don't survive. I guess I live in a Fool's Paradise, but there I would rather be, than be prejudicial, hateful, violent, being smothered by the ignorant.....
ReplyDeleteHi Lee, good to see you again. I'll take any paradise on offer.
DeleteI like the sense of darkness going to war - suitably in need for some light - Jae
ReplyDeleteNot enough, I fear.
DeleteThere will always be warriors, and leaders that say, 'Fight on."
ReplyDeleteAnd the ones who make the decision to send the warriors into battle rarely even have to break a sweat
ReplyDelete