The Arena, A Poem Options

[mALX]

*

The Arena Gladiator

The roar of the crowds kept me on my feet,
but I swayed and darkness hedged my vision.
Blood streamed in my eyes, I could not see.
One more wound, one more minute...I might be done,
when the match ends there can only be one.

The hilt of my sword was slippery and wet,
Sweat mixed with blood dripped on my hand.
My opponent should be just as injured, and yet
another blow on me he was able to land;
and without much trouble managed to stand.

Weakness overwhelming, sapping strength;
The blade in my hand too heavy to lift.
He had moved in close, barely an arm's length.
My parry was sloppy, I thrust and missed.
His slid through my belly with an icy hiss.

His eyes apologized as he twisted the blade,
I was too numb by then to feel the pain.
He thrust upwards, waiting for the sound to be made
that would tell him my lung was beginning to drain.
When he didn't hear it he thrust up again.

I heard it then, my lung tore with a "pop."
The blood coming out was bubbling with air.
Inside me I wanted to beg him to stop.
It was too late now, and I just didn't dare.
I felt my eyes freezing into a glassy stare.

My knees hit the ground first with a thud,
my bowels spilling out in a nasty pile.
Then my face plowed straight into the mud
I think I still breathed for a little while.
Then I heard the voice of Clavicus Vile

When I joined the Arena I always knew
that this day would eventually come.
When you enter those gates what they say is true,
Only one will go home when the day is done...
Today was the day that I wasn't the one.

*

This post has been edited by mALX: Jun 26 2011, 12:57 AM

[Destri Melarg]

There is plenty of grit and, oddly, an optimistic ending.

OPTIMISTIC?! Which part? The part where the lungs go ‘pop’, or the part with Barbas eating the entrails?!

Wait.

*reads again . . . and again*

Ohhhh, this line:

His good humor showed in his face
His realm was really not such a bad place

Apologies trey , I see it now. I was so afraid that we had lost our mALX to some deep, dark corner of Oblivion. But even from behind the veil her optimism is still the lamp we can use to find her.

Whew!

Loved it, mALX.