August 10, 2011

Gathering


I know the strengths and weaknesses of all my men. I know who tends to rise to the occasion. I know who keeps calm under fire. I know who moves quickly, and where exactly my best scout is sniffing the wind.

My own strength and weakness is my calculated recklessness.

I am of the classic model. My counterpart is stronger, but I am willing to sacrifice myself, which inspires my men and together we have the ability to repel the enemy.

My death is a weapon the enemy should fear most, but he does not, and so it is my most powerful weapon.

It is this army I lead that has a chance and every wise man in every galaxy knows it. For years I have been moving men into place.

I will be gone, rest assured. Before then, another night under the stars, my love. I will silence the guns again. I will pay your price here where the hammer falls.

For one more night, I will forget my destiny.

6 comments:

Claudia said...

may i be honest ed..? .this one is good but the one yesterday in my opinion was much stronger. i like the first stanza a lot - the leader knowing the strengths and weaknesses of his men...think that's an important skill of a good leader - also to know the own strength and weakness..very nicely penned - then it gets a bit weaker - think you can make the ending much stronger... just my two cents... you know i love your writing..

Ed Pilolla said...

haha:) i agree. it's not as strong. i'm really glad you liked advancing:)

Lisa said...

remove my love, remove let me, replace it with i will.

Brian Miller said...

nice ed...i agree with claudia...it does have a great boldness to it in the willingness to sacrifice one self for the troops and how even that would be an inspiration...wish more leaders were willing...

Ed Pilolla said...

lisa, i made the changes. i'm not sold but will leave 'em up and take a look again later.

thanks, brian. i feel rusty but i'm attempting to write with regularity.

Ed Pilolla said...

what i hope is rust may be disease, however:)