Pre-Napoleon ambition

The conflict is a basket
others talk about greedily
as if some kind of hidden banquet
Yet to be devoured in glee

Not one terrible word will you speak
If it is peace that you seek
And the gossip leaks
won't that make you a target?

Now a musket blast could burst a barrel
cracking it down the shaft
A sharp last resort could still spurn regret
A well thrown rifle weight behind bayonette

Some war off the horizon
flashes that can be seen
yet shrapnel too far to be felt
explosions could be heard
yet the heat is still miles away

You pick up the basket
handcuffed in denial
yet free to draw blade
Some vein makes it way from the distant hills
and offers itself up to be cut

Hungry for the blood
seduced by the basket
you seek peace thick and thin
The steel divides skin
it's you in the mirror

That peace misplaced
harmony defaced
It's a word inside the blood letter
Last resort clinging to the musket
Rusty steel passionate bayonette