The War

We brought our swords to battle,

All lined up along the cliff.

On chariots and horses

In armor forged of steel.

The sea it raged below us,

Death boiling at the brim.

Black waves climbing ever higher

Reaching for our souls.

Our Captain stood before

Shining white like the setting sun

He raised his helmet high above his head

His voice roared as he spoke

"Today begins the battle

Of us against the sea.

Although it seems impossible,

Anything is possible with me."

Some of us were shaking

Fear pounding through our blood.

Others had already fled

Tossing down their swords.

The sea seemed ever greater

Stretching on and on

My fear threatened to take over

When I heard the battle cry sound

Down the troops began to fall,

Slashing at the waves

My feet refused to jump,

My sword dropped to the ground.

I knew I needed to fight the sea

To conquer better lands,

But so many had been swallowed already

And I was afraid to drown

Then I felt abiding warmth,

Flowing through and all around

I knew the Captain was standing by

Holding onto my arm

“I am afraid of the sea,”

I whispered through my shame

He turned my face up toward His,

“I will guard you, hang on to me.”

I gripped His hand harder still

And picked back up my sword

Then hand in hand we took the leap

Pressing into the waves

The sea froze to the bone

My air began to fail

I tried to find the oceans end

I fought to see the sky

I almost wanted to give in

Let the sea win the war

But then I felt my body rise

Then I felt the warmth

The sea had turned to calming blue

The sun had begun to rise

I realized I was being carried still

All the way to white and sandy shores

My Captain placed me down

Among the others who had fought

He looked at me through tears of joy,

“My soldier, the war is won.”