The Rhyme of the Modern Deserter

A Nod to Coleridge: Written in Romantic Ballad Form with Archaic Spelling

Image by the Poet assisted by Co-pilot

PART I

In deserts waste where none dare tread,
My skin like ancient parchment drye,
Among the bones and stones long dead,
Where life doth fade and spirits flye.
A twitching 'neath mine hollow eye,
A pulse upon my withered face,
Doth tell me that I still survive
Within this God-forsaken place.

Five nights I've lain in griefe …