Noble Causes, Noble Steeds

In stillness
I saw two sad wooden eyes
and heard the Great Khan’s rumbling troops
a clatter of cavalry at Omdurman
Sebastopol’s dying Light Brigade
loud slaughtering from Waterloo
and the clash of battle at Antietam

“What Price Glory?”
brave charging Captains
swords thrust forward
cried

“Too high, too high!”
their riders’ mothers sighed

In the café
I spied the Four Horsemen
discreetly taking tea
waiting.