Into Battle

[Nagual LoneWolf]

...And life is colour and warmth and light,
And a striving evermore for these;
And he is dead who will not fight,
And who dies fighting has increase.
The fighting man shall take from the sun
Take warmth, and life from the glowing earth;
Speed with the light-foot winds to run,
And with the trees to newer birth;
And find, when fighting shall be done,
Great rest, and fullness after dearth.
The blackbirds sing to him, "Brother, brother,
If this be the last song you shall ever sing,
Sing well, for you may not sing another,
Brother sing."
...And when the burning moment breaks,
And all things else are out of mind,
And only joy of battle takes
Him by the throat, and makes him blind.
...The thundering line of battle stands,
And in the air death moans and sings,
But Day shall clasp him with strong hands,
And Night shall fold him him in soft wings.
-Julian Grenfell