Those who
take up the sword
shall
perish by the sword.
—Matthew 26:52
Sword must be
the mightiest
word in the
world. See it for
yourself: word is already contained,
its double-
daggered w
left unsaid,
mistaken
for a pair of
muted v—
fleet-footed
samurai
set to slice;
on tiptoes like
the shrouded
a in stealth.
It’s the hero’s
weapon of
choice—
unsheathed in
half-a-second—
the honour that
it brings, a rod
for Thorian
bolts, epitome
of Herculean
effort.
Conan was its
servant
not its master.
Nothing else
can knight you
on the shoulders.
Not an AK-47.
Not the atom
bomb.
And surely not a
Molotov—
its bearer
fleeing the battle
once it’s
tossed.
It’s the poster
boy for
knives;
something they aspire to
whenever their
drawer is pulled.
It will help you
in a pinch;
cut that brick
of butter
that’s been
sitting in the
fridge since
olden days.
Silverware have
winced
from golden
auras—a smooth,
deceptive
texture;
feigning they’re
too spotty
to do the trick.
The sword itself
can never be
surrender’s cause.
It knows no
cowardice.
When it’s thrown
onto the
ground in
acquiescence,
it repudiates
the fingers
which concede,
always unforgiving;
vengeful to the
bone.
It does more
than
simply wound. It
severs the
brain from body.
The body
from the soul.
Takes our proud
identity away.
It’s just in its
show
of mercy.
Merciless
when it’s just.
It will invade
and/or defend.
It even serves to
splice the
conjugations.
Unyielding
Excalibur.
Few are worthy
to wield.
It’s our past
and it’s our
future. Willing
to adapt
if it must.
Alight in the
hands of Kenobi.
Aflame
with Joan of
Arc.
Forged when war
arrives
& it always
will.
The sword can
take a punch—
pounded on an
anvil
in a blaze, till
it blinds us
like the sun.
Its deafening,
immutable roar,
as though a
mother giving
birth
in archaic
times.
We are all its
sons.
We are all its
daughters.
It’s twin-edged
for a reason,
honed in its
locution.
Its language is
its
glory. It
harbours the gift of
tongues. We know
exactly
what it says
when
it disrobes,
recoiling from
its naked
retribution.
©2026 Andreas
Gripp
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