Leo Poem by Louie Vizcarra

The air was still as two armies faced each other
across a dusty, parched battlefield.
Each second hung like an eternity
no one daring to tip the first domino
that would set off the chaos.
The warrior's heart full of courage, like a lion, Leo
was ready for battle, blood, and honor
I have long trained for this.
Suddenly a long cry pierced the icy stillness, inciting mayhem
and was immediately followed by thousands more.
The two armies rushed at each other, and in a split second
the forces of thousands of brave hearts clashed.
Blocking and ducking
swinging intentionally, deliberately, confidently
and fearlessly
I took several brave hearts' lives in short order
and fought alongside my brothers.
To my left, unexpectedly
One blade sliced my fresh body
And to my right and another followed suit.
I turned to block, stab, kill but
A club made contact with my chest, crushing my ribs
and knocking me to the ground.
Feet kicked and stepped on my body
as I clawed the earth and fought to stand
all the while surprised at the overpowering strength of this foe.
This wasn't supposed to happen, to me, Leo
He who dreamed
and was full of life and courage.
While other men fight in this battle, kill and live
and a Patriarch lies to the north, breathing his last
I as well lie dying, bleeding on the ground
helplessly absorbing blows that punish and crush my body
watching the world spin wildly on its axis
and the sun set behind the clouds.
This wasn't how this battle was supposed to happen.