Gladiator-Part 2-The Nemesis


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 shield slashed upwards, surprised and caught him full in the face

Red erupted from his broken jaw, the crowd screaming for more,
Wanting, roaring for more death, blood and gore

Grutas now madly rushed forward swinging the sword low,
I jumped up over the blade, plunging my sword straight below

But Grutas was alert now, blocking the blade from below with his shield,
And rolled away safely, jumping back on his feet

And I sensed how difficult it was to win this final duel,
For Grutas matched my strength to strength, skill to skill

We now both charged, Grutas moved as if to swing from the side,
But suddenly changed his motion, thrusting ahead, his blade grazing my side

The sword cut through my armour, then my skin in a deep slash,
Red and painful, I screamed and collapsed in agony at the lethal gash

The crowd cheered, some howled, like wolves hunting prey,
Grutas now raised his sword, was this going to be his day?

Lying on my back, I looked up for justice towards the heavens,
And through eyes almost shut, I saw the fluttering raven

No, it would not be this easy, I would not die this way,
I somehow staggered to my feet, grabbed my sword, body still in a sway

Grutas seemed angry now, and rushed in madness to give the final blow,
A mistake that many make, that could just save me now

As Grutas charged, at the precise moment, I stepped aside,
And ducked, my sword slashing now at my backside

The swinging blade hit home, slicing through Grutas’ side,
And suddenly he crashed to the ground, in mortal pain he cried

Like a volcano that has erupted after lying dormant for long,
A loud cheer went up through the crowd, as if right had won over wrong

Gathering every ounce of strength, I staggered to where Grutas writhed,
And looked at the Emperor if he should live, or should be killed

The Emperor remained motionless, leaving Grutas’ fate to me,
And I thrust my sword for the last time towards my enemy

Loud cheers, some booed, cries of ‘Raven the victorious, Raven the merciful’,
And Grutas, alive, the blade grounded inches away from his body, eyes grateful

I raised my sword now to the crowd, I kill, I live, I die for thee,
As the Emperor walked with the wooden sword towards me

The raven fluttered overhead for the last time, and flew away,
And soon was a tiny speck in the sky gray

The heavens opened up just then, sending down nectar,
Hiding, after many years of pain, a tiny tear…

Comments

azima said…
again well written and enthusiastic...esp following lines


And I sensed how difficult it was to win this final duel,
For Grutas matched my strength to strength, skill to skill

keep it up...
August 4, 2007 at 12:00 PM
candy said…
Mouth is agape! I am becoming a fan.
August 25, 2007 at 4:10 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ride the Storm

Image
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...
Read more

Gladiator-Part 1-The Genesis

Image
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 ...
Read more

The Swayamvar of Draupadi

Image
They had come from far and wide to marry the fair maiden, Crossing many a mountain, river, valley and ocean But she would marry only the man, who was the best, And to choose him, she had arranged a daunting test On the top of a high wooden pole, in the centre of the courtroom, Was a wooden fish, rotating around the pole on a mechanism The suitor had to hit an arrow in the eye of the fish, By looking at its reflection in water kept below in a dish Many brave warriors tried to lift the heavy steel bow, but failed, They now had fallen silent, all pride gone, hanging their head Just then, there was a sudden flutter in the crowd, like a breeze of hope, As a handsome man stepped forward, dressed in an ascetic’s robe His skin was a golden tan, strength rippled in his arms, His sharp eyes exuding an alert and wakeful calm He bowed before the mighty bow, as it lay still on its stand, Touched his fingers, clutching it, and suddenly lifted it clear in his hand He looked up at the fish, rotating h...
Read more