A tribute to the Iliad

Ageless loyalty and pride depicted on a shield

Life hanging in the balance in a single battle

Courage and honor wasted on a worthless creed

Enemies clash in an endless struggle

A bitter struggle for life…

They fight for their cause as its value decreases

Their faith falters and high hopes are at stake

They sell their sacred love for thirty silver pieces

The sword is sharpened and the warrior’s hand shakes

Pride overpowers their warrior’s code

Honor forgotten in cold-blooded rage

Brother raises his hand against his brother bold

To win the final battle of this dark age

The lots are cast at last in a painful pause

Fury and vengeance have played themselves out

You lose your soul in your fight for a noble cause

And in the end forget what you have been fighting about

The cause is lost but your fury outlives it

Your enemy raises his hand to kill your friend

The shock mutes your soul and bitterness kills it

Your thirst for vengeance deals you a bad hand

Tears turn you inside out and leave you blind

You reach for your weapon to get your revenge

Your fury kills the man who killed your friend

You think the death of your warrior-brother is avenged

The deed is done but your pain still persists

Your victory fails to fill you with pride

Your conscience is overcome by guilt you cannot resist

The ashamed warrior casts his weapon aside

Your anger kills human compassion

You feel justified in your cruel deed

Your enemy’s father approaches you in passion

He drops down and sobs at your feet

He stoops and kisses your murderous hands

He begs you to let him bury his son

You stare in awe as the old man before you stands

Your soul is mute and your anger is gone

You weep with the man and pardon his son’s actions

Your soul bows down in front of his godlike pain

Your proud heart beats with healing affection

And heaven forgives the vengeance insane

No more anger and no more resistance

Repentance melts your frozen heart

You silently cry and beg heaven’s assistance

You solemnly grant the old man’s request

No more pain and no more sorrow

Time will heal your heart and give you peace

Heaven will glow in the hopes of tomorrow

And you will learn to love in this moment of bliss

The war of your soul has finally ended

You stoop low to the ground to pick it up

Your soul that wept and to heaven ascended

That learned to forgive and finally stood up

Tears of forgiveness comfort your bleeding heart

You open your eyes to a new morning

Your love has melted the pride of Bonaparte

Martyr-like you are ready to share the cup of mourning

Repentance has finally healed your pain

You release your soul like a dove in flight

Pain and fear can never hurt you again

One moment of godlike forgiveness has ended your plight

Nothing left to fear and nothing left to lose

Everything that could be won is now your prize

Your anger falls in front of the love you choose

No more bitterness and no more actions unwise

You may have defeated many on the battlefield

Your heart has thirsted for a glorious name

Yet the warrior kneels before a pure heart that is concealed

A father’s love wins over a foolish thirst for fame

Your godlike forgiveness has conquered darkness

Your soul returns on the wings of a dove

The battle is over and you have won your catharsis

You saved your soul with just one selfless act of love