The Unsung Warrior

By Rithika Lyer

Who am I?

A Foe or an ally

Castaway by my mother

Accepted by another

Rejected by every other

In this miserable world of smother

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

Born with a shield

As golden as a cornfield

Waiting to yield

To the perils on the battlefield

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

I am a cursed man

For me, life had a vile plan

And it all began

With the words of one from a holy clan

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

Loathed by all

Still, I stand tall

I shall not cave and fall

But face and surpass them all

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

Insulted by a Princess

By all nevertheless

Am I not worth an ounce of respect?

Then why am I seen as a defect

By family that is meant to protect

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

Archery and might

People say I am a knight

But why is my plight

That of misery and spite

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

Accepted by a friend

The world seeks to end

With all of me, I will defend

This man to the very end

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

I chose evil they say

And I will stay to pay

The price of a game two play

That gives way to utter dismay

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

Gambled away by her mate

Revered by all as righteous and great

Was this her fate?

For the words, she spewed in bitter hate

Dragged in front of all

And dropped amidst the brawl

A sight that pushed me to recall

Words of pride and appall

What I did next I cannot state

But my repent was far too late

For the act brought upon our fate

In merely thirteen years of anxious wait

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

Destiny or choice

I never had a voice

In this world filled with hopeless rejoice

I battled and fought

Empires whose support we sought

With deep distraught

Preparing for war and its thought

Learned men of all kinds

Were in strapped in a cruel bind

For they realized the dreadful end and refused to walk in blind

I pledged my loyalty to one

But came undone

When I found out I was “her” son

How can I harm my brothers?

And hurt several others

But I am bound by duty to another

That wishes to kill and smother

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

Family and love

As pure and holy as the dove

Is a gift from the one above?

This man I stand by

I cannot abandon and leave to die

For he is my faithful friend

And I, his strongest ally

Who am I?

A foe or an ally

Honor and virtue

Duty and Trust

Values that are just

Even if life is unjust

These I follow, I must

On the sixteenth day

Of the war at play

I meet my end, they say

I was caught, trapped, and shot

And fell to my fate on the spot

I remembered all who cursed

And lay on the ground to be nursed

But with one last wish, I fulfilled

To a man cloaked in divinity unbridled

I breathed my last and stilled

Who am I?

An illegitimate warrior prince or a man from a low caste

A might archer or a troubled knight

A man of misfortunes or a sinned man

A savior or a vanquisher

A friend or a foe

But most of all

A hero or a villain

I wish I had known

By Rithika Lyer