there was a decorated general with a heart of gold, that likened him to all the stories he told
of past battles, won and lost, and legends of old; a seasoned veteran in his own time.
on the battlefield, he gained respectful fame with many medals of bravery and stripes to his name.
he grew a beard as soon as he could to cover the scars on his face, and always urged his men on.
but on the eve of a great battle with the infantry, in dream, the old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning. he awoke from the night to tell what he had seen, and walked slowly out of his tent.
all the men held tall with their chests in the air, with courage in
their blood, and a fire in their stare. it was a grey morning and they all wondered how they would fare,
til the old general told them to go home.
He said, ‘I have seen the others, and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting. I have seen their mothers, and I will no other to follow me where I'm going.
So take a shower, shine your shoes. you’ve got no time to lose, you are young men you must be living.
go now, you are forgiven.’
but the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders, not knowing what to do with the contradicting orders. the general said he would do his own duty, but would extend it no further; the men could go as they pleased.
not a man moved, their eyes gazed straight ahead; til one by one they stepped back, and not a word was said. the old general was left with his own words echoing in his head. he then prepared to fight.
He said, ‘I have seen the others, and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting. I have seen their mothers, and I will no other to follow me where I'm going.
So take a shower, shine your shoes. you’ve got no time to lose, you are young men you must be living.
go now, you are forgiven.’
of past battles, won and lost, and legends of old; a seasoned veteran in his own time.
on the battlefield, he gained respectful fame with many medals of bravery and stripes to his name.
he grew a beard as soon as he could to cover the scars on his face, and always urged his men on.
but on the eve of a great battle with the infantry, in dream, the old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning. he awoke from the night to tell what he had seen, and walked slowly out of his tent.
all the men held tall with their chests in the air, with courage in
their blood, and a fire in their stare. it was a grey morning and they all wondered how they would fare,
til the old general told them to go home.
He said, ‘I have seen the others, and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting. I have seen their mothers, and I will no other to follow me where I'm going.
So take a shower, shine your shoes. you’ve got no time to lose, you are young men you must be living.
go now, you are forgiven.’
but the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders, not knowing what to do with the contradicting orders. the general said he would do his own duty, but would extend it no further; the men could go as they pleased.
not a man moved, their eyes gazed straight ahead; til one by one they stepped back, and not a word was said. the old general was left with his own words echoing in his head. he then prepared to fight.
He said, ‘I have seen the others, and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting. I have seen their mothers, and I will no other to follow me where I'm going.
So take a shower, shine your shoes. you’ve got no time to lose, you are young men you must be living.
go now, you are forgiven.’
Wow. It's really lovely.
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