the barbarians have arrived

so this is what it's like to face the night
with back bent nearly double and sad face
to march so long and then to stand in place
as behind the mountain slowly dies the light
ahead of us looms darkly to our sight
grim marker of the century's disgrace
the one thing not considered in our case
that shows the limits raw power and might
what in the end must matter is the choice
to stand and wait or else to break and run
knowing that either way we confront fate
one way requires that we subdue each voice
and make our way without the hope of sun
the other leaves us panicked at the gate