Ashes of the Lost
Ashes of my life around my feet
nowhere to go, so filled with defeat
an ending of failure -  so complete
consumed by my uttered demise

Life lived so long in paternal duties
keeping my measure in categories
balancing all of the casualties
in hope of winning the prize

Failure has struck – its ugly head raised
nowhere to turn and nothing to praise
up from my death – unlikely in blaze
the phoenix has lost its life

Crushed from the forces of external foes
beaten unto an eternal low
stricken down sharply from hidden blows
unable to end the strife

Shadows abound all around me now
lost in the journey – no more power
rebuilding is hopeless in this hour
the end is all left in life

by DWHolmes (copyright - 2005)