Emperor’s Day
By Anonymous
Twas the night before Emperor's Day,
and he fought all alone,
in a four foot deep trench
lined with plasteel and stone.
I was traveling the warp
with gifts for the land,
when I saw this lone guardsman
making his brave stand.
I looked all about,
I looked near and far,
no Chimera, no Basilisk,
nor Techpriest or Commissar.
No Sergeant yelled orders
to this guardsman - no backing
to fight this ridge full of xenos
formed from pure evil, attacking.
His armor in tatters,
his eyes nearly blind,
A sobering truth
raced through my mind.
His position was doomed,
was my only thought
and this soldier's brave stand
would all be for naught.
The guardsman stared unblinking,
silent and alone,
his lasrifle at the ready
against his shoulder bone.
His gaze was so calm
in the face of calamity,
the perfect picture of
a guardsman of humanity.
Who was this brave hero
whose position I'd spied,
warring against
this unstoppable tide?
I now knew that all humans
I would see this night,
owed their lives to these guardsmen
who were willing to fight.
Soon all round the galaxy
the children would play,
and grownups would praise
the bright Emperor's Day.
They all lived their lives
every month of the year,
Because of brave guardsmen
like the one standing here.
A tear came to my eye
for those who stood alone,
on a cold Emperor's Day Eve
on a planet far from home.
Their great sacrifices
I could never betray
So I drew my burning sword
to join in the fray
The soldier did turn
and I heard a rough voice.
"My Emperor, rest easy,
this death is my choice;
I fight for a freedom
that may never be found,
but not ever shall I waver
upon Your sacred ground
Then the Guardsman turned
to face the incursions
of the foul xenos and
their unholy perversions
I kept watch for hours,
until the night was still
and the guardsman lay broken
on the bloody red hill.
I could not just leave
on that cold grim dark night,
this guardian of honor
so willing to fight.
And as the guardsman lay dying,
his soul strong and pure,
he cried, "Ave Imperator!
It's Emperor's Day! This world is secure
I knelt before the fallen,
A great victory he'd won.
"Happy Emperor's Day my guardsman,
rest in peace, my son."