Finnian
A few tears trickle down Finnian's face as he climbs back to his feet. He is quietly talking to himself as he faces the point where Anniston made his sacrifice.
"Rest well dear Anniston. Your faith is a beacon to us all.
"I told you it was those sanctimonious superiors of yours who had lost their purpose, not you. You did not have to go so far to show them. We knew your worth and so did the Light. Rest well faithful servant."
He does not seem to notice the others as his voice begins to roll into a requiem hymn. The power of his voice grows with each stanza until the final lines roll across the fields like a battlefield command.
"Soldier, ask not - now, or ever,
Where to war your banners go.
Anarch's legions all surround us.
Strike - and do not count the blow.
Glory, honor, praise and profit,
Are but toys of tinsel worth.
Render up your work, unasking.
Leave the human clay to earth.
Blood and sorrow, pain unending,
Are the portion of us all.
Grasp the naked sword, opposing.
Gladly in the battle fall.
So shall we, anointed soldiers,
Stand at last before the Throne.
Baptized in our wounds, red-flowing,
Sealed unto the Light - alone!"
Finnian stands a moment with the tears rolling freely down his face before he becomes aware of himself and his surrounding again and composes himself.
[sblock=OOC] Unfortunately I can't claim the poem / song as mine. I first read it about 30 years ago. It is from a work by Gordon R Dickson first published in 1967. Not sure if it is his work or something he picked up from elsewhere. I believe it is his since there is no acknowledgement in the print information copyright page. It was something that has always stuck with me and I thought appropriate to the moment. Just forgot to add the acknowledgment here. I did change Lord to Light to fit the setting.
As a voracious and eclectic reader for 40+ years, I have a lot of odd things drifting around in my head.[/sblock]
raco if that is an original work by you and you just posted it..thought it and posted it you get one level. Bravo
