she with sword

she with sword
rides boldly
through rigid lines
staffed with brazen men
housing withered hearts

some whisper hoarsely
how ungodly, how unseemly,
her short, wild locks
and "willful rebellion"
must appear before their God

yet she with sword
rides bravely, recklessly,
unmoved by human opinion,
toward the Lord's enemy--
with pupose, with destiny

she with sword
writes the Lord's name
on her waving flag
and provokes the enemy's spawn
to engage in a war already won.

those who mock her
are silenced then . . .
though no one speaks
when she with sword
finally meets the flaming stake

and they watch as she,
stripped of sword and flag and mount,
is finally humbled,
and they breathe their heresies
into the cold night air.