Love and War

<ctr>The Soldier's Song</P><P>Unto this time calmer tides he had seen </P><P>For a tempest neared the sea having been </P><P>Summoned to fulfill a vow he had sworn.</P><P>From the comfort of his life he was torn </P><P>Taken elsewhere to an unknown land </P><P>To an untold foe where he would band </P><P>Together with many who the same fate </P><P>Share- to near and tread the enemy's gate </P><P>Where a brother in arms fell to the ground </P><P>By the hatred of an enemy's round. </P><P>Such courage did abound </P><P>From within his heart as he heard the sound</P> <P>The cry of his brother near to the mound </P><P>Of earth that he hurried to surround </P><P>And shield the life of his friend with his own. </P><P>Of the seeds among battle that are sown </P><P>This deed stands highest among them alone. </P><P>And though in death courage is boldly shown </P><P>Only in love is it best known. </P><P>Hence the earth this day a canvas was made </P><P>Upon which an estranged beauty was laid </P><P>And a garden was sown which bade </P><P>A flustering paradox to be made. </P><P>For man's best and worst this field adorns </P><P>And a rose blooms of petals and thorns. </P><P>Then the war he lasted and his friend </P><P>He saved and returned home to rest and mend </P><P>His broken heart and jaded limbs too long </P><P>Availed. Sated he sang his weary song </P><P>And strived withal to rekindle his lost </P><P>Life as rose flowers beneath the frost. </ctr></P>