Battle of Mactan 1521

6 Comments

Battle of Mactan 1521

Before the break of dawn each side prepared battle plans

in a bright bonfires burnt til’ sunrise,

Strategy drawn on sand not on a piece of paper,

indigenous warriors rallied about the Datu,

loin cloths and colorful headbands as armor,

long blades, bamboo spears, wooden clubs

common weapons of their generation

dependent on brav’ry an’ muscle power

ready to die n’ defense of their island bastion,

pledges nev’r on bended knees, bowed their heads

before strange monarchs and gods.

Battle of Mactan about to begin

 

Galleon ridin’ bearded enemy, well equipped,

big an’ tall, equally brave n’ shining armor,

under their watchful eye eager to landfall,

confident to defeat nescience Indios

An hour after sunrise, cannon balls rained on shore,

villagers pother here and there, burnin’ flames,

screamin’, seekin’ safety somewhere,

mingled with laughter, curses comin’ from foe

Cloud of arrows, spears, stones showered on deck in reprisal

The Explorer led his army to attack,

aggressors, defenders met midstream

Battle of Mactan had begun!

 

Fearless stone liked men assembled on rocky shores,

behind thick soot shouts, hollers one could hear,

geared up to exchange steel for steel, blade for blade,

soldiers from nev’r land they didn’t know where,

bloody appendages began to litter on the florid beachwater,

cries of pain, braves nev’r to surrender or retreat

finally both chiefs met, thin n’ thick steel glimmers

under the heat of the solarman,

nerves crackled under super strength

sweat, tears poured over twisting faces,

man to man, chieftain to chieftain

‘til someone dropped dead like a fly

 

Native arsenals an’ clinched fists quaked in the air,

a victors’ loud wail prevailed over the etiolate seashore,

the seemingly endless fray started to capitulate

when miscreant clamber back to where they were,

outnumbered, outfought, outmaneuvered they claimed

a powerful nation on bended knees, bowed in disbelief

ignoble chieftain looked on the fallen Grandee

only to behead Magallanes, the vanquished

while Lapulapu the champ raised up his kampilan in the air,

yelled the historic words, echoed thru valleys an’ seas,

“Death to the invaders, I bow to no one only to my people.”

At same day foreigners left the bay forlorn,

yet promises to avenge comes glorious mornin’


That day came but the Battle of Mactan is well remembered

                       APRIL 27, 1521

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Necy commented on Battle of Mactan 1521

07-07-2009

Very vivid and so intense, producing strong clear pictures in the mind. Indeed, the incident left a strong impression on me. Necy

nhorlandi

07/08/2009

A thousand thanks, I'm proud of our first national hero.

castlemist commented on Battle of Mactan 1521

07-06-2009

I like this a lot. I love history and sometimes I forget the side of those who didn't write the books and stories I've read...nice work!

nhorlandi

07/08/2009

Gee thanks, mate. I do love history too,world history was my favorite subject in high.

lightcourier commented on Battle of Mactan 1521

07-05-2009

Nicely narrated historical work. Really enjoyed this. Wasn't so long ago that the weapons of technology were scaled down to flesh and sticks! Nice work!

nhorlandi

07/06/2009

Thanks mate! Appreciate it.

optimistic commented on Battle of Mactan 1521

07-05-2009

Wow!! very inspirational and historical event, well written into poem form. interesting that they were able to survive thru the toture.

nhorlandi

07/06/2009

Thanks for the read and review, appreciate it.

orsonav commented on Battle of Mactan 1521

07-05-2009

Wow! This is a very nice narractive. This poem was well organized and flowed well. A great poem about courage and honor. Great write.

nhorlandi

07/06/2009

Thanks, you're real friend. Appreciate it.

Poetry is not the expression of personality but an escape from personality.

T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) American-English poet and playwright.

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