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Poet's comments

Essentially I was partially inspired by La Chanson de Roland with a Dulce et Decorum est pro patria mori spin on it. In the first third I wanted to try and mimic discordant rhythm of awkward marching in chaffing clothing. Then I wanted to have the general's 'rousing' speech entirely in rhyme to portray the idealistic, patriotic naivety of the crusade. Finally in the final third I wanted it to be partially self-reflective as it becomes clear that very little separates both sides, just as with the Saracens and the Christians. It is the realisation that they are all human and all with similar agendas, with the main one being that which all knights coveted in medieval literature if not real life: going down in history and making a name for oneself in legend. (Elishna O'Donovan)