Poetry: "Finest Hour"

This poem is based on David Gemmell's 1986 novel Legend. The novel is highly recommended, but you're not here to read a review of it, are you? There's a review of some of Gemmell's books at www.laretheleazar.blogspot.com, but here's the actual poem, because I know that no one cares about reviews right now, otherwise you wouldn't have come to Writing Development.

Finest Hour

Tearing through the dormant land

Ravaging its people

The rising king comes here to reign

To take what should be his

Falling under fierce attacks

In desperation summon

The heroes that protected them

And kept their kingdom safe

The heroes of the long years past

Answer not the call

All but one are long since dead

Have fallen to the years

The living legend answers soon

Arrives at castle’s gate

Trains its volunteer recruits

In the ways of legend’s war

The enemy comes to their gates

Expecting little conflict

Instead they find the legend’s hand

Commanding the defense

The battle soon grows hard and long

Defenders start to break

At last the enemy succeeds

Break down the castle’s gate

The legend knows his time has come

The last stand he prepares

Gather all surviving men

To strike the enemy at night

After several bloody hours

The enemy has won

But in the hour of their triumph

Their king and leader falls

Within mere days of victory

Collapse in civil war