I Stand Here And Go No Further Poem by Andrew David Dalby

'rise like lions after slumber
In unvanquished number-
Shake your chains to earth like dew
for ye are many and they are few' P. B Shelley

Brick after blood soaked brick,
Line after gnarled racked line;
I will make this world my own.
I stand upon this wind-swept beach,
My skin chiseled and spat ruddy;
Scythed by time, wind and rough salt.
My mottled hair is weathered wiry,
My glistening eyes are very wide,
Taught hard by the gods of the sea.
Upon this heavy heartfelt reflection,
I see myself, a soldier-incarnate;
Born for the taste of a bitter war
So it's here...with my red wet sword,
I scrape a long deep scar-line,
Upon this wild and writhing shore
To boldly shout out my proclamation!

How I hear death's vengeful scream,
And see its claw-like monstrous wings,
Gleaming with the sheen of wet leather.
But oh, how heartily I earnestly laugh,
At the feel of the drawing of its clasp;
And the cracking crunch of its feathers.
For in the hideous unrelenting iced hiss,
Of its truly terrible sour midnight kiss;
I mock and slice Its cold three lobed eye.
And while it screams with blistering rage,
I will hold-fast to face this foul beast;
With bold defiance I take my place to stand.
Proclaiming to every single child and man,
With phlegm flying in arcs from my mouth;
I scream I stand here and go no further!