Pebblebrook Literary Magazine

There’s no way you can win
A voice said to me
For the enemy is mighty
You will surely face defeat

There’s no way you can triumph
Another voice said to me
It’s better to stop and quit
Because there’s no way you can compete

This fight is for someone else
I heard a voice say to me
Turn your head and look away
Live to grow old peacefully.

This battle is far too dangerous
To me another voices said
Despite your strength and skills
You will probably be torn to shreds

There’s no way you can endure
Yet another voice said to me
Many braver souls have tried and failed
How can you achieve victory?

If you go, you will be all alone
A voice said to me
Alone you cannot survive in battle
Alone you cannot survive the enemy

But then the voices all went silent
As I reached for my shield
Then as I reached for my sword
I could feel the confusion build.
Did you not hear us?
The voices said to me
The odds are against you
You must be on the verge of insanity!

Then I said to the voices
As I prepared to engage in war
Not knowing whether it lay near or on
a distant shore:
“I will not give into my fear and doubt just to sit idly by,
Because I know whether or not I am in battle
I can not live forever; everyone must eventually die.
So with a sword in my hand and the sun on my face
I will accept any enemy’s challenge
No matter if the cost to me is great
I know the challenges are enormous and the obstacles are great
But I live the life of a warrior
And as a warrior I must tempt fate!”