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

[Remko]

Loved it mALX!

[mALX]

Loved it mALX!

Thanks Remko !!!!

[ureniashtram]

Are you sure you're our Resident Kitty? 'Cause that piece of work could very well be made by ...

Before I go on, let me say this.

You're a genius.

[mALX]

Are you sure you're our Resident Kitty? 'Cause that piece of work could very well be made by ...

Before I go on, let me say this.

You're a genius.

Where have you been lately? See? I had to write this to draw you back on here, you were missed !!!! I am so glad you liked it ureniashtram !!! Thanks !!!

[ureniashtram]

( the prey's eyes glanced to and fro, its instincts telling it that its a trap. But this one was courageous. He dived)

GET READY FOR THE MORNING STA-

Click!

And here I am, standing proud, caught by mALX's devious traps! Ha ha.

[mALX]

( the prey's eyes glanced to and fro, its instincts telling it that its a trap. But this one was courageous. He dived)

GET READY FOR THE MORNING STA-

Click!

And here I am, standing proud, caught by mALX's devious traps! Ha ha.

Aw, now that was Awesome !!!

[Acadian]

I'm not a fan of poetry . . . most of it causes my eyes to glaze over and quickly move on. But I'll make an exception here. It was easy to read, easy to understand and powerfully evoking.

You captured the feel and spirit of your gladiator perfectly.

This was really good, mALX!

[mALX]

I'm not a fan of poetry . . . most of it causes my eyes to glaze over and quickly move on. But I'll make an exception here. It was easy to read, easy to understand and powerfully evoking.

You captured the feel and spirit of your gladiator perfectly.

This was really good, mALX!

Thanks Acadian !!!!

[treydog]

Not usually a fan of rhymed verse (except finding excruciatingly bad rhymes for "Athynae"), but this works.

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

Very good.

[mALX]

Not usually a fan of rhymed verse (except finding excruciatingly bad rhymes for "Athynae"), but this works.

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

Very good.

You mean like:

Why'd you go away...Athynae?
Please don't ever stray...Athynae?
Your arm smells like Ben-Gay...Athynae?


ROFL !!!! Thank you so much Treydog !!! I got an inspiration to do that at 1:30 this morning by Woolymammoth on the BGSF.

[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.

[mALX]

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.

Thanks Destri !!!! I wrote that at 1:30 this morning - wanted to post it on the Scribe's Corner in the manner of a thank you to Woolymammoth for inviting me - When I drug Clavicus Vile into it I realized I was getting too tired and needed to pull it to an end.

The last stanza was the one that inspired the whole poem.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Sep 24 2010, 09:05 PM

[mALX]

*


The Chute


It's like being born, emerging from that dark chute.
Stepping into the hold the sunlight burns your eyes, blinds you.
The steel bars of the gate so cold to the touch; they block your view
of the man in the pen across from you.

You have a few minutes to wait for the call.
As a Pit Dog I used that to jump on the wall
stirring those crowds to scream and cheer,
and taunting my opponent with a sneer.

You can't wait in that hold without thinking though;
or size up your opponent's skills, because you know;
There will only be one of you go home that night,
and you'll never know which till the end of the fight.

***

The Arena came to life as Wes Johnson began
reading our titles, our status, and rank.
His voice booms, echoes off each mezzanine.
That's why he is called "The Voice of the Arena."

He announces the rank match, then hesitates,
then louder he booms out, "Lower the Gates!"
Hearing those words sends a chill down my spine,
no matter how many fights - it happens each time.



*

This post has been edited by mALX: Jun 26 2011, 01:01 AM

[Winter Wolf]

Awesome poem mALX!!!!

You have captured the feelings of the people so very well.

I cannot help but wonder how many combatants were killed not by a lack of skill, but by an unfortunate slip in the blood and gore beneath their feet....

[mALX]

Awesome poem mALX!!!!

You have captured the feelings of the people so very well.

I cannot help but wonder how many combatants were killed not by a lack of skill, but by an unfortunate slip in the blood and gore beneath their feet....

Thanks Winter Wolf !!!

You have been greatly missed, have you got all the DLC for FO3 yet? Will you be getting Fallout: New Vegas? I am still stuck in Mothership Zeta on FO3, but I am getting New Vegas. (and FO4 next year)


I want the thread to be an open place anyone can post an Arena themed poem, etc. in.

[Destri Melarg]

I want the thread to be an open place anyone can post an Arena themed poem, etc. in.

This sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately my poetic skill ensures that I am best left an appreciative reader. But I look forward to what everyone else posts.

EDIT: Oops, sorry, I liked the second poem as well.

This post has been edited by Destri Melarg: Sep 26 2010, 10:39 AM

[D.Foxy]

Well...before I go off TDY - here is something, off the top of my head...




Before is always the end.

Speak, my soul,
Contemplate the darkness
that is my foe's goal,
Stare into the abyss long, dark and deep -

Till the abyss stares back into you
Till the darkness calls you by name...

Before, there is always the time
to lose yourself in the stream of Lethe
and forget the self. You do not exist.

You do not exist.
You do not exist.

Your hand, a machine.
Your heart, a blank.
Your mind, a page already printed.

And your soul is the book
on which fate is written,
Know this, and lose all fear
Know this, and fear no pain

No loss of lover or tears of goodbye
No pain of parting or words of farewell
No regret for dying and none for killing
No frowns, no smiles, no eyes that cry

Silence is the birth
into which the warrior's born

Take strength from that silence
And rise into the Red Dawn.

[mALX]

WOO HOO!!! AWESOME FOXY !!!!!!!!

[mALX]

(Edit) - Thanks Destri !!!

This post has been edited by mALX: Sep 26 2010, 06:02 PM