Home, but not home

He was hollow-eyed, yet handsome, too
Wide of shoulder and spare of flesh
Had golden hair o'er dark, red beard
Stood tall and straight, his head unbowed

The weight of years was in his gaze
As if the sights were made of lead
Had struck the light from deep within
To leave darkness behind his brow

He walked among his Kin and Kith
Alone with them, as with himself
Immune to joy and sorrow, too
A shell of what was once proud youth

The years had turned and gone by fast
He had grown well and made a choice
To serve his folk as soldier true
Had gone away and seen the wars

The days were long and full of fear
The nights went on without an end
But comrades fine were his bulwark
Against the dark that dwelt within

They fought beneath a banner bright
Its promise full of gentle thoughts
That they beheld as honor's prize
If they could but deny the foe

The wars went on without respite
The rests were few and all too short
And fellows of his band of friends
Fell all too oft before their time

His time it came to feel the steel
Wielded by foe, unseen by him
A coward's trick, a hidden trap
It struck him down and sent him home

His body healed under the care
Of doctors fine, skillful and good
They could mend flesh and straighten bone
But they could not, weld up his soul

After wounds knit, he was discharged
And came to hearth of his boyhood
He recalled folk as memories
But felt he lived in ghost of past

He was hollow-eyed, yet handsome, too
Wide of shoulder and spare of flesh
Had golden hair o'er dark, red beard
Stood tall and straight, his head unbowed

The weight of years was in his gaze
As if the sights were made of lead
Had struck the light from deep within
To leave darkness behind his brow

The weight of years was in his gaze
As if the sights were made of lead
Had struck the light from deep within
To leave darkness behind his brow