Lines of Battle

I

The weapon-storm fell

like whitecaps breaking;

The light arose

like levin in reverse. 

Like all-burning flame

at the end of the world,

Like Destroyer’s trident

as Time concludes,

Those deadly weapons

dazzled and danced;

Those fearful instruments

flashed and flared.

All the world seemed to tremble, 

both waters and mountains;

All the upward shuddered,  

and the eye of day darkened.

II

Helms were cloven,

hands were severed,

Armor pierced,

edges dulled,

Blasters broken,

bones laid bare,

Shields were split,

shafts lay shattered,

Rockets were crushed,

ray-guns pulverized,

Explosives were bled,

poisons emptied,

Gasses were spent,

greaves were split,

Staves were splinter’d,

standards tumbled.