Glory Reaped

My hair cut short, my breasts were bound
For to the war beat my heart sounded
Off I’d ride from castle keep
Bright glory for to reap

My Father brave, a man of war
Was valor bent unto the core
No comely gown or girlish wile
Would win my Father’s smile

I hungered to defend the realm
With sword and shield and shining helm
Though he’d no son, I’d be his pride
And off to war would ride

Great aspirations I had known
And here I was, all on my own
No blushing maid or mother hen
But equal among men

We sang, we drank, some brawled and fought
Camaradеrie was all we sought
We drеw our swords upon the morn
And stood as brothers sworn

The sun was low within the sky
We waited for the horn to cry
And watched the treetops fill with crows
To feast upon our foes

The clanging crash of sword on shield
Commands from each for each to yield
A thrill as great as any host
Ran though me like a ghost

The world of reason bled away
And wild of heart within the fray
I floated in a field of wrath
And marveled at my path

The battle won, we stopped for breath
While wounded foemen prayed for death;
Triumphant on the field stood we
Vivat for Victory

Deep within, I swelled with pride
I now could stand at Father’s side
And share the joy of battles won
As strong as any son

So I turned to find my own
And reap the glory I had sown
But ere I sought the promised prize
What horror met my eyes

Lying like a broken toy
Upon the ground a wounded boy
Ten years of age and not much more
Came crawling to the fore

I threw my helm from off my head
The field around me rank with dead
And here before me, but a lad
In rusty armor clad

“Dearest Sister is that you?
How came you here? Can this be true?
Run, Sister, run you far away
And seek another day

I cannot see, the light is gone
Oh Sister, I am all alone!
Tell our Father that I tried;
Remember me with pride.”

He died there gently in my arms;
The glory won had lost its charms
I saw the truth of what I’d done—
I’d slain some Mother’s son

I gazed around and saw the slain
Who knew no glory, only pain;
How different now my triumph seemed
As dying soldiers screamed

What glory in the bow or blade?
What honor can through death be made
When children are the sacrifice
And innocence the price?

Away I ran, and to this day
My husband works, my children play;
I thirst no longer for the fight
Nor envy squire nor knight

My son will never know the sword
My girl, for sweetness find reward
My husband’s hands will know the stain
Of Earth, and not the slain

And I will reap what I will sow
And take my joy when green things grow
Let others who hold life too cheap
Their so-called glory reap