When the Night FailsThrough the night the battle raged,
and then through another,
Night after night became week after week,
and still the fire of our foe rained.
When there was no tree left,
no green for which to stake a claim;
When the buildings were all fallen,
and the rocks were all smaller,
the foe diminished and anguished,
our leaders, our greatest, slain -
Then took we out our unstained banner,
and walked away, in single file,
beneath the shield of dignity,
in the hush after the battle’s roar,
the marching tune,
of a lone Bagpipe
echoed through our minds …
Kenneth W. Slayor
20120511
