Awaken Warriors

Written By: Marcus

In the quiet fold of the Alleghenies,
where wind blows through the trees
and the bell above the chapel keeps sentry,
men gathered
not to conquer,
but to listen.

They came from long distances,
carrying stories of exhaustion,
of wounds and loss,
of something once fierce
now half-forgotten.

There, among the stones and mountain spring,
a stillness opened.
Circles formed.
And one by one,
they began to remember
that the warrior’s heart is not hardened by battle,
but tempered by love, 

not shrinking from conflict,

but standing firm in conviction,

without needing to win.

That courage
is not the loud cry before the charge,
but the quiet choosing
to protect what is good and true,
even when no one sees.

No trident on the chest,
no badge on the belt,

no arms on the sides,
only the discipline
of showing up,
of standing firm
in the face of fear,
of offering the self again and again,
to something greater.

And as sunshine broke during the morning sit,
light touching every face,
it was clear
the mountains had heard their vow:
to live with open hearts,
to guard what is sacred,
to remember who they are,
to focus on the mission,

rooted in healing

yet moving forward with purpose.