My favorite type of story to write is a fantasy adventure, and my favorite story structure is the YA novel. So, I guess one for two isn’t bad! Instead of a novel, here’s a poem based on one of my old WIPs. Hopefully, someday the story will see the light of day. But for now, enjoy this little taste!
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Drum
Hear it:
The drums of thunder rolling,
lightning cracking,
thrown from heaven’s fists.
Listen:
The swell of marching armies,
the sighs of surrender
blown on the wind.
A mighty roar.
Mighty, as is my foe.
Death looms,
knocking on the splintering door.
If all else fails
and I hold my ground,
before darkness’s embrace,
let me hear this last sound:
The beating of a brave heart.
the panting of a thirsting soul.
The singing of my men ’round me,
like the days of old.
The raging battle cry,
the kind that will never cease.
If this be my last day,
let this last breath mean something.
Hark:
The sound of breathless gasps.
The sting of steel
against the metal helm.
Look:
Hope flees, a hiss of breath,
a dying sigh.
In the battle, there am I.
If all else falls
as I lift my hands,
before death take me,
I pray I see strength in this stand.
The beat of the brave hearts.
The panting of the thirsting souls.
The singing of your men ’round us,
like the days of old.
The raging battle cries,
the kind that will never cease.
If this be our last day,
let our last song mean something.
Lo:
The sound
of the raging voice,
the shaking ground
of the bravest heart
beat sure and true,
of the morning,
of the sky so blue
As the battle starts,
we look to the skies.
May the heaven hear
our battle cries.
A mighty roar
before we are no more,
the meaning of a brave heart
and of a thirsting soul.
Rachel Sandell 