Four lions

A story about four soldiers who were taken prisoners

Once great heroes,
now weak in wealth.
Forgetting the battles,
where pain was felt.

The enemy decided to attack,

none of the four fought back.
Captured like little toys,
puppets for their ploys.

Four men, once lions,
with hearts of iron,
are now kittens,
waiting for riddance

Steady they walk,
Useless to talk.
Strapped in chains,
limping with shame.

Four men, once lions,
with hearts of iron,
are now kittens,
waiting for riddance

"For this,you shall burn!"

one yelled, out of turn.
The guards turn to him,
one slices off a limb.

The man shrieks in pain,
trying to help, all in vain,
the three lions are blocked.
trying to free their lock.

Three men, once lions,
with hearts of iron,
are now kittens,
waiting for riddance

Still days more to go,
the wind starts to blow.
They drop on their feet
thrown back by the heat.

The heat overwhelms all,
Two get up, one crawls.
He collapses, lacking strength,
and soon is short of length.

Two men, once lions,
with hearts of iron,
are now kittens,
waiting for riddance

Stopping for a night's rest,
feeling the burn on nature's test.
The guards set up camp,
all the men have is one lamp.

Tired beyond reason, they sleep,
the bugs fly, and also creep.
dreams of unspeakable horrors arise,

 wakes one up, dying to meet his demise.

Morning arose, and fear strikes,
seeing his friend dead, buried alive.
Looking closer, he spies a note,
"I'm sorry, I could not stay afloat"

One man, once a lion,
with a heart of iron,
is now a kitten,
waiting for riddance

Finally arriving at their goal,
the trip has taken its toll.
Weakened and out of shape,
cannot find the energy to hate.

Thrown into the mining cave,
There, awaits his grave.
He meets several others,
who are now his brothers.

So the man tells his tale,
the others go pale.
All in awe at his story,
gasping in its glory.

Three lions had gone to war,
who had slain dozens before,
 They fought until a glorious death,
each died with no regret.

The prisoners now have hope,
  glad to know someone cares,
and fearless enough to dare.

The final lion is long dead,
A kitten remains instead.

Reviews

[Devons]

This is a beautiful work of art, almost a legend in the story it tells. In fact, it could be seen as a parable or allegory in terms of its narrative. The prisoners' fatal march reminds me somewhat of Russian POWs in the hands of the Germans, or maybe the British in the hands of the Japanese.. but the story could be an untold one relating to soldiers from any age or war. The ironic, yet tragic tale it tells is from an interesting and unusual angle: showing the unheroic side of warfare, where even the heroes are reduced to rubble. Not so black and white is harsh reality compared with fable and knights of old.
The story is a touching one and is delivered with quiet intensity and detail which lifts it above any normal, one-track poem. The structure of it is very accomplished and the repeating verse reminds one of older rhymes of yore, where the numbers are gradually counted down. But the effect in this piece is much more profoudly powerful in its portrayal of ultimately fragile and weak humanity. And in the end the tale the surviving soldier tells is reversed, leaving you with the impression that many an older, more famous legend has altered the truth somewhat in order to disguise the horror of reality.
It brings to mind a parallax view of the film Angels With Dirty Faces, where the villain who in the end faces the electric chair pretends to be callow and scared in order that the children who idolize him will be discouraged by his memory and lead better lives...

[Tate Morgan]

Pride is our great flaw and what makes us great men

[Poeticpiers]

interesting and well presented but you have to take into account the beliefs of other cultures.To the japanese death was preferable to surrender.
different races have different perceptions of the rules of war

[...]

... you are an exceptional poet and an exceptional story teller ... this was riveting ... extremely rich narrative ... amazing plot ... intense descriptions ... great pace ... great rhythm ... great twist in the tale too ... (highest rating) ... p.s. ... typo in the spelling of shrieks ...

[Fran Marie]

An excellent piece on the perils of war~ nicely penned

[SR Urie]

Excellent sentiment for Memorial Day. Thanx, shipmate! BZ

[Ruth]

Wonderful!
This is intense! Those with honour, falling, can they greet another day? Not only thought provoking but very moving!
xx

[Coyote Poetry]

The poem is outstanding. So easy to fall from greatness. Even the Nazi's look weak and meek when death was near. They were cold and heartless men who saw death coming and knew hell was coming. I like the ending. Last lion dis create some hope. A excellent poem.
Coyote

[Lighthouse Call]

Excellent Poem! I enjoyed it!
One thing:
Weakened and out of shape,
cannot find to energy to hate.

to energy? should it be the energy?
A great 98 for a great poem!