Verdant Green

Through the wrath of the years
And against the vision grown dim
Through the pain of a thousand tears
We are mere seeds for the green
Toil as we may to trample upon
Our memories etched on hallowed grounds
Time but ceaselessly carries on
And erases all that have come and gone
But though our efforts seemingly for naught
And our bodies may have grown old and taut
On canes and cradled bones we will stand again
Amidst the verdant fields of green
Tilled by the hands of our brethren
Watered by the very sweat of their skin
And though the green lies pristine and unmarred
As we have withered against time’s march
We will but straddle upon one blaring day
Where we were told to take the test
On hallowed proving grounds we stood
And our bodies might have failed then
Our minds might have weakened
But our souls stood firm
And when time comes when the green itself asks
For the final penance, the cost of our folly
Our only saving grace then
Would be the long ranks of men eager to prove
For we would be sure
That the verdant green would be watered once more