Aphelion Issue 301, Volume 28
December 2024 / January 2025
 
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The Admiral (Needs to Be Seen)

by C. B. Droege


She leads.

The fleet responds
to her call alone.

Her presence boils down

to strength
to suffering
to the will to survive
to the will to destroy
for destruction is at hand.

The menace chases her

to the helm of her flagship
to the helm of her fleet.

Trillions of eyes
watch her every move.

She takes command of the ship

with her hands
and her feet.

Sliding to port,
tipping to aft,
she barely dodges
menace missiles.

Outgunned five to one
she knows

there is no hope

but she strives

and shouts
and sweats.

Trillions of eyes
watch her every move.

They are rushing to help her

rushing to be there
to save their beautiful admiral
who once was young
who once was lovely

a shining star of battle in a navy of peace.

She knows what needs to be done.
She knows what needs to be seen.

She leads.

Trillions of eyes
watch her every move

from both sides.

She rolls the ship
tight to stern

too late
the menace realize

their mistake.

The spinning fragments

of The Admiral's ship

tumble toward each

of the Human worlds

becoming seeds
of strength
of suffering
of the will to survive
of the will to destroy
for destruction is at hand.


© 2016 C. B. Droege

CB Droege is an award winning fantasy author and poet living in Munich. His latest book, RapUnsEl and Other Stories was released June 2015. Learn more at Author Index.

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