It was a time of constant battle

When I would exercise my might

A proud lion among frightened cattle

Before me all would soon take flight

But those days have long since faded

The book has turned its final page

A past once glorious, now jaded

How sad it is when Warriors age

My body, once lithe and agile

Full of power and matchless speed

Time has made it slow and fragile

And to my mind it pays no heed

Where I was once the leading actor

A dominant force upon the stage

In this new play I’m not a factor

The curtain falls when Warriors age

Acceptance has been hard to swallow

Mortality stares me in the eye

The strength of my arm lies fallow

Weakness I long tried to deny

The lion’s roar has lost its power

It echoes poorly from this cage

A proud countenance seems dour

The drums stop when Warriors age

This old Warrior’s time has ended

But greatness in my blood still runs

Those battle cries won’t be suspended

For I will teach them to my sons

Point them toward new days of glory

To them I’ll be a learned sage

Thus continues a fabled story

When young Warriors come of age

Copyright ©2004 Anthony Hall