Fodder for Fought

[Philatone]

“Eat, drink, and be merry,
for tomorrow we shall die.”

(Well at least you dumb young fellas,
those who aren’t hanged for being yellow!
What would be the point of war?) ...got interested in the S-V inversion here, which really places more emphasis on "war" as the last word, over the whole "point of war" if you ended on the verb

“For it is God we are fighting for!”

(if I the King should die?
After all, it is me you fools are really dying for!
this boy here will die, a dagger in the eye ...hm, this line did little for me, especially with its rhyme
if I died, what would be the point?)

“There you go lad, have another joint,
Go ahead, drink large of that good ale,

(Cheap stuff for these fools, all stale,
The good wine for me, but my cup's dry,
There Chamberlain, catch the serving man’s eye,
I have a toast soon to make,
At least my gulp I’ll not fake)

My hearty brave soldiers all.” ...great how this proceeds directly after "fake"

(Although most of these will fall,
those young and dumb, just cannon fodder,
I’ll reclaim their signing gold when they’re martyred,
one of thirty, survive and be some use,
five of thirty will get the noose,
and the rest will be a dying wall of flesh.)

“Good lad, I’m sure you God will bless,
perhaps some day you’ll be a knight!” ...interesting how "blessing", rather than bringing something like sainthood, only annoints you in the military/ material title

(That made his dull eyes bright,
it will happen too, when dark is light.
I worry, to depend on these boys so blind,
target practice for the enemy line,
but they’ll delay them, so my archers can fire a volley.)...not sure you needed the "but they'll delay them"; I think the line before gives enough hint that the men can be used to serve the archers

“What’s that son, oh yes the enemy is full of folly,
Thinking they can stand against our great fighting force,
have you seen your knight upon his horse?
Sir Who? Oh yes he is most ferocious.” ..like this line

(Never heard of him, this boy is quite precocious,
at least for a lad of eight, he’ll never see nine,
he’ll be one of the first, cut down in the line) ...not sure if this commentary was as helpful as the others; I think the exact same sentiments are already expressed wonderfully in the stanza above

“Quite now lads, I your king will make a toast.
To Thee, God’s Glorious fighting host,
Thou art strong as the land, as hickories.
Most surely with such soldiers as thee…. uhm…..….ah!
God will grant Thou the victory! Amen.”

“God Save the King, To the King’s good health!”
(Forget God boys, the King looks out for himself!)


©2012 Erthona

just some thoughts, hope they can be helpful