poemranker ::Islands Of Our King by Caducus

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Free verse № 76247

Islands Of Our King

Member since 2002 · Posted 23 Nov 2003 · 6 comments

As absent leaders played God at chess Pawns became Kings and Knights Who dwelled in narrow moats Where they drowned in their own blood, Forming pale islands of the Commonwealth Slaughtered by the silk glove of skin By our own Kings hand. Let me name these islands, these Kings Cyril of 5 Priory Road in Kent, Nathan of Ontario, Darren of a farm near Adelaide, All islands in a velvet vermillion sea Floating like bread in bloody broth. Who will discover these islands? Which come together like hands in prayer Each time a new island is born from death. It matters not where we fell But where we stood. Our footsteps filling with rain Our message to the free world That we won’t stand again. Let me fall, With my brothers in the pit of schisms. Dying for an unknown cause As an unknown. I will be resurrected. Not as a concrete cross on mowed pastures, Not as a King or pawn But as the calm that follows storm. Look in to my eye It’s unconquerable, golden and crowns you in light And upon this drawbridge of rays You can enter in sleep the Castle of God.

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6 comments

[8] Y2kSlamPoet 23-Nov-03/5:01 AM Reply
gods castle? I prefer my own mental temple. Nice poem- got war on your mind? Blessed with eight.
[n/a] Caducus › Y2kSlamPoet 23-Nov-03/5:39 AM Reply
Yes I have Y2K (reading wilfred owen lately). I find that their is a sick irony that a king sent thousands of young men to their deaths to protect England from oppression and a commonwealth obtained by the very acts of barbarism he fought against. I saw many pictures on old b/w footage of men in trenches they dug that became their own graves. Nuff said, but the only positive thing in this poem is something spiritual which we have no proof of, lets hope their is a peace after this life.
[n/a] SupremeDreamer › Caducus 23-Nov-03/5:58 AM Reply
Ah, I see- wars always sick, screwed, and almost never proceeds as planned.

Your guaranteed to return as one form of energy or another. Heard the buzz is quite soothing- but I haven't travelled that far down the NDE highway, yet.. won't be soon, if im lucky.

But castles? -shrug- (Personaly, the bigman should upgrade to an Elysian Hilton.. toiletry in a keep is quite bad- stinks.)
[10] INTRANSIT 23-Nov-03/11:02 AM Reply
Gads! I do say 'ol chap. You seem to be quite the runner at present.
[9] richa 24-Nov-03/1:55 PM Reply
Like the bit about the islands, kind of makes me think about politicians in northern ireland. Funerals for political murders,usual suspects, turning up, blaming eachother, not breaking the cycle.

Possibly needs to be a bit more clear how islands move together works as a metaphor, or is it figurative for the leaders?
[n/a] Caducus › richa 24-Nov-03/3:46 PM Reply
I just think islands is a sad metaphor. Men sent to oppose tyranny from a King who acquired a commonwealth through tyranny. These men ended up killed by the very crown and catle they were protecting, ironic and sick. Also moats are there to protect a kingdom and these men became islands in moats (again islands) of which became there graves, and of which remained undiscovered forever. I could try and make this clearer as i have such deep thoughts on it yet found it challenging to even touch upon.

THanks to everyone for commenting on this, it's a theme close to me as I had a Grandfather who fought in WW2 his father beforehim in ww1