The Sanctum of Sanity

Eagle

Picture supplied by The River Journal as their prompt
for their spring poetry competition.

Emblem of lost tribes,

whose chiefs, like envious thieves

had stolen your impressive plumes

to mark their earthbound victories

and deck their ancient tombs

with feathers from your noble flight.

With might upon their conquering side

long departed legions, marched beneath

your wings and Rome’s green laurel wreath,

bringing death and desperate grief.

Instilling in barbarian hearts
fear of your talon's sudden strike.

More potent still, was the collective will

of more ambitious states.

Whose inventiveness increased your skill

to kill out of the blue,

raining from an azure sky
new and industrial ways to die.

© James Rainsford 2012

Note to readers:  I posted this poem as my entry to the Spring Poetry Challenge at River Journal.

It didn't wiin. However, I've extensively rewritten the original and I believe it's now good enough to share here at Open Link Night.
The worthy winner was Mark Windham with his poem: 'Wounded.' http://bit.ly/KqHUx9.
I hope you'll all go and read his entry. it's a deserving winner.
Kind regards to all who visit the pub this evening and thank you for visiting here. James.