Tag Archives: Holy Land

From Ramparts I Gaze Upon Grassy Plain

From ramparts I gaze upon grassy plain,

Imagination in overdrive with visions of the past.

These walls for protection are all that remains,

A wonder of man that for centuries has last.

 

O’ but the sights they surely must have seen,

Siege and catapult and bone-crushing blows.

Walls bathed in red corrupting lush green,

So many years have passed, it no longer shows.

 

Though beautiful now, what horrors must have been,

As conquerors pined for the treasures of this place.

Frightened citizens scurried as each attack did begin,

Praying to God for the safety of His grace.

 

As blood of man flowed in the name of power and God,

How many precious souls were sacrificed for naught.

Singing of Psalms while carrying thy staff and thy rod,

Marching into battle on the indulgences Rome taught.

 

Promises of Heaven under trumpets thundering call,

Warriors stood their sacred ground.

As each watched their brother with screams of pain fall,

Until not a man made a solitary sound.

 

Much sadness did spread losing husbands and fathers

For life ever after that no man can give.

Not one little bit did their deception bother

Sacrificing lives to horrors no man should live.

 

This warring way of life the Crusades did foster,

Succumbing to the desires of religions holy men.

All for the lands of others their coffers did prosper,

Uncaring towards those they’re charged to defend.

 

These ruins though amazing of time long gone by,

Raise up a sorrow for those who went before.

Reminding us of the men who sacrificed and died,

Hoping these atrocities will rear their heads no more.

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Farewell Knights Templar

Image Credit: wunderground.com

Image Credit: wunderground.com

The blood curdling scream from the dungeon below,

Made John pray to God for the hangman’s gallows.

This soldier of God stripped of vestments so pure,

Now nameless and faceless a test he was sure.

~

I’ve done what was asked by king, country and Pope

In exchange for a promise to Heaven elope.

If I fall in battle to those savages in the east,

To sling, bow and arrow or some other horrid beast.

~

Instead I’m betrayed by the kinsman I protect;

By cowards and fools those insignificant specks.,

Hiding behind crown whilst I lay on this rack,

Fingers and toes broke while they flail on my back.

~

These charges of heresy are baseless and false,

I’ll deny to my death, to my last beating pulse.

Phillip IV King of motherland France,

Cooked up this scheme devious to embolden his stance.

~

Our riches and land to be his at all costs,

No matter the lives of the Templar that are lost.

Castle and fortress captured by the crown,

Confiscated before Pope Clement could resound.

~

This murderous thief will be judged before God,

Without royal finements, naked and unshod.

Surely he’ll be banished to Hades for his crimes,

Whilst I’ll be looking down on his torment for all times.

~

Justice will be served though draw and quarter is my fate,

I long for the Lord at Saint Peter’s pearly gate.

For the righteous will receive promised Heaven’s just due,

Whilst river of fire awaits souls of evil to be threw.

~

Soon my dear comrades in paradise I will join,

Those of you who’ve gone before by the heathen on the coin.

We’ll reap our sweet vengeance on this coward of the throne,

He’ll burn in Hell, consumed by fire, for eternity alone.

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~