A Warrior’s Promise
I stand upon this wall and look for you
The wind cuts through me like a knife
and the sky is heavy with expectation,
with foreboding, black as my mood
There is ice upon my jerkin, in my beard
I am alone, surrounded by my men
I wait for you, you have promised you will come
promises are like pearls, or wishes, out of reach
The howling of the weather stings my eyes
drowns out the business of the day
These are not tears, merely raindrops
Frozen to my cheeks, frozen in my heart
I have been waiting all the night
from the last light, to dawns’ call
I will wait forever, ’til you come
I will not desert my post, nor you
You are the zenith of my existence
I can have nothing of greater value
For me, without you, there is no purpose
It is as if the wall is lost, abandoned
I stand alone, the last sentry
protecting what has already succumbed
The wound in my side troubles me still
I am weak from loss of blood, lack of wine
I ache where I was struck
this body blow, but nothing compares
to the pain of losing you
I stand upon this wall and look for you
I will stand my post and mind not the pain
it is insignificant, naught, beside the lack of you
I know you will join me when you can
we are not destined to be parted ever more
Our paths lie together, we are one, whole
In my isolation, I am yet beside you and you with me
Two hearts, beating as one
stronger together than alone
The road between us is long and hard
but ’tis a Summer stroll, an evening constitution
The heavens are weighed down
with fear and doubt
But there is a shaft of light to see you clear
to guide you home, to me, to us
I stand upon this wall and look for you
our time is nigh, we will be together
I have not suffered mortal wounds
to lose you, to be denied
that which we are destined for
It shall be ours, we will prevail
I will not despair
of seeing your sweet face again
The fickle winds of fate
will blow our way in time
We have earned this one reward
it shall be given
awarded in due course, for our patience
for believing in this gift, bestowed by the Gods
I stand upon this wall
and look for you
I sense your spirit out there
it is weak, but striving still
I know you seek me out
I will join you, or you me
either way, we shall be together
upon this wall, forever
© Ann Bagnall
