978. Most of the Warriors - James Kavanaugh

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Most of the warriors I knew

Have settled down to gardening, and the morning Times,

Tired of stalking ghosts

and the melody of secret rhythms

above the sound of traffic

and other monotonous voices,

Finally content to stare and wonder.

Most of the warriors I knew

Have unsaddled stallions and built a fence in the backyard,

Weary of studying the clouds

And the shadows creeping across mountains

beyond the flash of neon

and other pretentious symbols,

Finally content to stare and wonder.

Most of the warriors I knew

Have died before their time and are forgotten

Save in the memory of their sons

And the dreams they seldom share

beyond the taint of time

and other unimportant measures

Finally content to stare and wonder.