Those Who Initiate Poem by Sheila Sharpe

Those who initiate the conflict
once sat perhaps on horseback
wearing medals from
some long past glory
each scar, each blemish upon
their weathered ruddy skin
telling to each their version of
War's ongoing story
or maybe they sat in chairs
of embellished leather
writing at desks embellished likewise
fingers clasped around a Quill's white feather
minds remembering
seeing into their pasts
with shadowed, wary eyes
whoever they were
whoever they now are
maybe battle hardened
owning to a prior
or future fighting skill
or charged with desk bound power
plumped as goose down pillows
they who initiate
still bend the unwilling conscripts to their will