strike up the band

strike up the band

the horns blare slow and sounding mournful
a march in sixty beats about a pulsing heart
as angles swoop low demons sneer scornful
a rational army retreats before charges start
casket weighted shoulders dire responsibility
a lifeless body turning with the shifting tides
shipwrecked on boulders of an impossibility
awaiting a heated burning a dark soul abides
a prideful flag is folded twenty-one guns crash
the widow gently weeps children stand stoic
as sailors to be molded for a the future clash
before the blood seeps all men appear heroic
so strike up the band here comes johnny paler
cold cash in his hand he is every inch a sailor