There he stood, yet again,
walking, falling, breathing—
still fighting, still burning,
all hope is lost.
Dagger through the heart,
knife across the throat,
one hand lost in battle,
the other holding a fist.
A sword for nothing,
yet a symbol of defiance.
Too far to live,
too stubborn to die.
Blinded in the left eye,
a pool of blood in the right,
scarred, wounded,
repairs made undone.
Chest cut through,
stomach turned blue,
but he grins with broken teeth—
no more surprises.