Axis & Allies - damowords

Sa‐Lah‐Din
The crescent league cries faith & sacred war;
Turbanʹd Berbers, pitch‐black Afric captains,
Pristine Emirs, the shark‐paced Almacor,
The sunburnt Syrians & Saracens;
Lord of the helm
One man unites them all,
To raise Outremerʹs realm & seize the wailing wall.
Damascus & Aleppo fall
To the dark Mujahaddin
Crushing Christian armies small
At the slaughter of Hattin,
ʺAllah!ʺ the cause, ʺAllah!ʺ the call,
ʺAllah!ʺ & he will win,
Until on heavenʹs city he lookʹd down
Where man‐on‐man pressʹd forward for renown.
The situation sancrosanct
Beneath a saffron sky,
The Templars thankʹd their lord, outflankʹd,
They knew they were to die,
But to preserve their paradise they could but only try.
Jerusalem
1187
Frederick Babarossa
Being the European Suzerain
Cappʹd by the Iron Crown of Lombardy
Chapiter of the Milites Christi
Red‐bearded confidente of Charlemagne;
Congregations,
Heard stirring aria,
ʺSeek your soul salvations, march with your emperor!ʺ
Off they waltzʹd to warʹs grave meeting,
Steady the firm demeanour,
Strong hearts in strong chests a‐beating,
Lusty the vibrant vigour,
Upon their arms, golden gleaming,
Day‐tinting sun shone brighter,
Pregnant with the promise of perfect day ‐
The mighty breath of life in human clay.
Alas! it was a simple stream
That killʹd a greater king,
His drowning dream saw Heavenʹs gleam
Thro Selaph glimmering,
Where seraphʹs beckonʹd heavenwards toward the reckoning!
Cilicia
1190