Chapter One

 

The old stones of this road

have rung with iron

black-shod hoofs and drums

where I saw him walking

up from the sea between the hills soaked red

in sunset he came, a boy among the echoes

sons and brothers all in ranks

of warrior ghosts he came to pass

where I sat on the worn final

league-stone at day’s end—

his stride spoke loud all I needed

know of him on this road of stone—

the boy walks

another soldier, another one

bright heart not yet cooled

to hard iron

MOTHER’S LAMENT
ANONYMOUS