Elephant Small Vol 2: Elephant Small, #2

Once the life and soul, now visibly weakened

Reduced to a shadow of his former self

Comforted by the intimacy of friends

Intimidated by confusion, conflict

But no stranger to the bloody battlefields

Fatigued by the frequency of Friendly Fire

And misadventure of misguided missiles

Sustaining the shots, he still soldiered on

To epic encounters with the enemy

Erosion, attrition, have taken their toll

He lives – after a fashion – to tell the tale

And serve as a warning; unheeded, ignored

By those who believe in the Greater Glory

Who bear not the scars, the constant reminder

That every single life is expendable

In years to come, when the family gather

To bid their farewell’s, as they lay him to rest

A message, etched forever in stone, will read

"Here lies a hero, in need of a cure

Unbeaten in battle, yet losing the war"

2. Vital

The precious gift of life is a heartbeat

Each moment is defined by a heartbeat

From cradle to grave, first round to final

Thoughts, words and actions hang on a heartbeat

Unscheduled pace of youth; now fast, now slow

Reflecting the rhythm of a heartbeat

Maturity mellows me to the core

Choices no longer take but a heartbeat

Age slows my mind as time accelerates

Existence condenses to a heartbeat

Preparing to meet the maker of hearts

A tribute is expressed through a heartbeat

As vital signs fade, one thought remains strong

I long for that throb; yearn for a heartbeat

To feel the pulse just one more time, I’d give

Everything I possess in a heartbeat

3. New Horizons

Road signs; no help

Their hieroglyph markings

Display a language you can’t understand

Traffic signals

Familiar warning

A universal colour-code command

Through the red light

To a head-on collision

In your haste to reach the point of no return

Through the green light

A twisting path to freedom

A tortured course to everything you yearn

But if you keep your eyes on the road

If you keep your hands on the wheel

Just a matter of time before you learn

Read the signs in the eyes of your mind

Keep a safe distance

And don’t get too close to arrogance

Pride will cause distraction

Each and