Farewell

As did my forefathers
And the heroes of my people
I'll return to the soil
As we all must do
Farewell to you

I draw my bow
For the chance at a meal
These cold, unsteady hands
Only wound the doe

Its red trail, I follow
And leads me out far
Out far and unknown
Far, to the oaken hold

In its wooden walls,
Nothing to hold
None but slain men I knew
And among them, my kin

My mourning is over
And down the only trail
Is where I will walk..

The encampment in sight
My only ally, stealth and might

Inside, my death is sure
Unsheathed father's sword
I enter, despite my certain end
Blood for blood, the message I send

The glow of my sword illuminates
The commander's blood as it runs down the fuller
And so mine, down the blade of another
Satisfied - I'm prepared to die

As I dwell upon the days I've lost
I smile, as I soon remember
This is no end
But another dawn