Centurion

Deep beneath the petty scars
Sleep the legions.

Their slumber is finally deep
Their dreamless rest forever earned.

Only one pair of footsteps marches
Only one voice commands.

Behind the back, the shield hangs scorned
Beside the words, the blade rests sheathed.

We killed too many monsters
We scorched too much of what we owned.

The fortress is complete, impregnable
No longer necessary in its might.

We grew too much for any vandal;
Only our torches need be heeded now.

We took too many with us as we fell
As we fell to our own immunity.

And now they dwindled and grew small
What was their war became mere anger.

We killed too many monsters;
Now they must endure watching us live.

Their fear is now their own
Their homes are now their burden.

We let them be, let them remember
How we sent our legions to sleep.

We let them flee, let them be free
Let them go perish as they wish.

From deep beneath the petty scars
Our conquered peace has spent them.