I'm a king of brave men who face the fray with backs against the sea.
They don't retreat; they have no choice but to fight until they're free.
Faced with death, they fight with twice the might I've ever seen.
A war turns men into beasts when brothers see each other bleed.

The young prince I oppose is sure his men will not be wasted, facing us.
Still, I look forward to their last words, whispered as dying moments pass.
I hope I'm exposed once he deciphers just one lie my spies have spread.
He thinks his plan's so advanced that he'll live more than a month.

I admire that man because we both bear similar burdens.
Him and I will continue to fight until the day we are put to rest.
I don't expect to die but I'm prepared; I have no fear left to hurt me.
Fear felt so wrong in the past, but now it tickles me, and I laugh.

The enemy is sure that we want blood today, so they hesitate.
We chant to beats like madmen; drums roll and sound like havoc.
I can only imagine what the evil army we face is feeling.
We chant like ghouls in a graveyard, and demons fear us.

I've spent time learning the mind of their belligerent prince -
A skilled strategist and a difficult target to hit like a prize to be won.
A commander knows which battles to fight and which ones to avoid.
I've disciplined my army into order; now it waits to strike them.

The selfish mercenaries of the opposition are heathens.
Enemies might still stand after arrows land but not long after then.
Their army will fall when sharp blades of our swords demand.
We will own riches and grow wealth once we've conquered land;

May your blade swiftly cut men down, but do show mercy.
Let your conquests die with their freedom, or spare them as slaves.

I've heard that love is sweet poison that leaves you hungry and leads you blind.

I've heard that love is war. It ends the peace and makes the heart fight for more.

The love I have feels dangerous; uncertainty seems routine, not dire.

You can put up with abuse and drive love away or avoid it all and fan the fire.

Your love might be in peril; your dear one's feelings are difficult to gauge.

You try to get a read on their elusive character, but there's an opaque haze around their aura.

The less they say, the less you know of them, the more of what you hope for is expected.

What do you wish to hear? Do you want to know what's true? What have you assumed?

Cognitive dissonance grows as unrealistic beliefs are never realized.

Lovers idolize their beloveds, but, inevitably, reality hits and their true colors show.

It's odd that I love my life like this.
Reality's taste has hints of hell;
I stand the smell by ignoring it.
I swear that life isn't what it seems.

To stop the pain, I can give up hope.
I'll let myself wait for what won't start.
I feel alive, dreaming ways will part.
Right now, I am numb to ev'ry thing.

This life tries to break my naive heart.
Too far, it's not near enough to sting.
I recognize when I hear a buzz.
Relaxed, I just let it do its thing.

A pretty girl peaks a guy's interest.
They talk a bit but she won't give in.
To her, he's a mystery to question.
Is he greater or less than expected?

He wishes he could remain that way,
filling in blanks with what she wants.
If he knew luxury is what she desires,
he'd try to stay a mystery or be a liar.

He might take her to the Ritz
and tell her he's rich.
In reality, he's no such thing,
but he dreams.

flames of faith burn bright
faith destroyed my life
still I have a little, but
when all the stars align
I won't start a forest fire
the flames of faith burn bright
I contain them with my skepticism