Wretched Wisdom

Railed on in swelters
And plied from it's grasp in weatherbound chains
Beaten by sound whispers, fragrant in waste
And deeper still waves, pray for light in caves

Weightless
Mindless assault
Silent caravans

North of forsaken battlefields
In lakes frozen with will
Old birds scream of slit throats
Languages burned by minds

Wisdom weary and seething with regret
Same windows on changing waters

Wretched standoff of life and death
Brave once through given words
Cherishing all but few