A Soul Redeemed Poem by Michael Stevens

i once heard a song a melody full of grace
so beautiful and serene and lovely a smile was moved to my face
and i would sit and i would listen and i knew all was well
and then i was issued my spear and a shield and my world it became a hell

and i listened. i heard nothing.
no gentle breeze, not the sounds of the mountains or trees.,
nor the noises of beasts...and with its absence i am indeed lonely.
for i am lost to the essence of this world
and without the beauty of it i will surely die.
and my soul will corrode and rot.

they taught me to march to the beat
the ratta tat tat of that horrid drum
and they showed me what it meant to kill
to thrust my spear with devilish will
to end ones life and not shed a tear
when ive stopped someones father from going home there

and as i became what they wanted of me
a monster spawned of man but raised a demon
my soul it little by little deminished and i never knew
and now as i ponder this through and through
i realized that i cant hear it anymore

and i listen and i hear nothing
no wind in the hills or the trees
nor have i even seen any wild beasts
and i grow weary and i feel sad
these people have made me into a monster
something i didnt want to become

and my soul has evaporated disappeared in a wisp
my heart crumbled as it was crushed
and my soft tongue for lyrics turned to a harsh lisp and im hated
as i try to make amends for the deeds i was forced to accomplish

and now with nothing left but emptiness
a void filled with the voices of the damned
the innocent that ive taken and i wonder
if i can make it better by a simple trade; my withered soul for theirs
so i turn and slayed them demons who once commanded my every move
i ask for forgiveness as i fall on my own sharp blade
and i know well it wasnt in vaine

and a vision is bestowed on me before all is silent again
the trees move in the winds gentle breeze
and the mountains echo with an eagles mighty call
and around me people mourn as i fall and close my eyes
and the sounds move me as i hear them once again
if even for the last time i heard them and at last forgiven of my sin.