During this Call to Arms

During this call to arms,
This duty in an age of arms,
I cherish this moment
Of being held, deeply, in your arms.

Your quivering body holding me,
Words escaping me,
We know what tomorrow may bring,
That a bullet may just find me.

Know that if one does,
My dying memory will be in your arms,
Knowing we are one of soul.

Smile that you’ll have loved a hero.
Know that your love, here,
Smiling, gave me final comfort.

In this call to arms,
I see that you love me.
Knowing my sacrifice is not in vain.
Smiling to still your pounding heart.

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A Hero

He scratches his scruff
With the barrel of his handgun,
Knowing if he doesn’t clean it soon,
It will jam when he needs it most.

He takes another drag on his smoke,
Another sip of his mud,
No longer shaking at the shells
Exploding in the not quite distance.

He’s ready for his next charge
Over no man’s land.
The Vickers cannot touch him.
The raven flies overhead
And he knows it waits
For carrion; his enemies.

A man falls next to him,
Felled by a sniper’s round.
He is ready.
The order comes.
And he is first out of the trench.
He is first to fall.

His body will be picked clean
By Odin’s messengers,
But he has earned a seat
Amongst the heroes of his race.