The Crusades

The servants prepared and polished my shield.
They sharpened the sword I soon would wield.
My horse was equipped with armor and saddle,
Thus eager and ready, I set out for battle.
'Twas 1096 when I boarded the ship.
and set off on that courageous trip.

The vessel's tossing, the raucous men
the gambling, the swearing, the bounteous sin
soured the flavor as the weeks crawled past.
I began to wonder how long this would last.
Then, land came into sight, and I primed myself
for the cross I would raise, and my new-found wealth.

Astride my horse I went forth to battle.
My sword swept heads like so many cattle.
They were not men -- I reminded my mind.
They worshipped others; they were not my kind.
Then, I saw a man pray with a lowered head,
And I listened to his plea, and the words that he said.

My soldiers plundered, pillaged and raped.
My heart grew rancid, and filled with hate.
But it was not the Muslims I soon detested,
but the emblem I held, and had once attested.
I saw the blackness of a world gone insane
where man fought man and imparted pain.

In 1099 I once more boarded ship
Bloody and sick, with a wounded hip.
Never again would I fight for "Christian right."
War had shown me a far different sight.
Men were brothers and should take up no arms.
I swore that day, I would do no more harm.



First Place in Molly's Weekly Poetry Contest "Invalid Item"  1/5/03