StormRider's musings

I knew Grutas ‘the invincible’ was true to his name, As yet undefeated, he was in the gladiator’s hall of fame One amongst us would be free today, one would perish, And I sensed this would be a deadly duel, a fight to the finish Grutas was light on his feet, and moved with an easy grace, As we circled, watching each other’s moves, pace after pace Grutas moved first, charging, slashing down his sword, I blocked it with my blade, the crowd now erupting in a roar Steel clashed with steel, all our strength behind hilts, Our bloodthirsty eyes locked with each other through the helmet slits Grutas let loose suddenly, slashing his sword backward now, My shield now swinging up, blocking the lethal blow Just as sudden as he charged, Grutas lightly stepped back, And I watched his moves, readying myself for the next round of attack I charged now, swinging my sword at him with all might, In the same motion, slashing my shield up left to right Grutas’ sword managed to block my sword’s pace, But my ...

In the dark pits below the Colosseum, I lay pensive and silent, Watching eyes of others, they seemed merciless and distant I gripped the hilt of my sword, it felt solid and reassuring, Unsheathing it now, the edges felt sharp and cutting In the blade I saw screaming faces and eyes, Eyes of opponents who had lost their pathetic lives They say I was found in a battlefield, wounds bleeding profusely, With only a black raven standing guard near me They nursed me, fed me, and I woke up one day on a bed, Brought back to the realm of the living from the dead They told me that I was now their captive, a gladiator, And would be free only when I got back my honour They called me ‘Raven’ and soon began a game, On one side stood death, on the other, glory and fame The rules were simple-swift and sharp you must strike, You wound, you kill your opponent to survive I learnt quickly, killing and maiming without mercy, Always winning the crowd over with my twisted bravery Till one day, they told me we ...

I had sensed it in the air, the deathly calm, The stillness, harbinger of the perfect storm Dark clouds appeared from nowhere, staring down menacingly, As people on the streets looked up at the skies fearfully I looked up at the storm, which willed to put me in harm’s way, There was no way that I could still call it a day Lightning flashed, a thunderclap, people now in a hurry, Running for shelter, like rats on a sinking ship scurry I flipped my hair, and zipped up my jacket, Kissed my locket, and put on my helmet I walked out into the dusk, and jabbed the key inside My bike’s ignition, and mounted it astride She looked at me from the doorway, as if saying, "I still care", My eyes replied what I had to say, by a glacial stare I turned the key and kicked, the engine coming alive and vrooming, Like a stallion straining on a leash, restless and neighing The tank, I knew, was full to the brim, A storm brewed outside, but a bigger one was within I pressed the clutch and shifted th...