"Struggle" by Blair N. Woynarski

Two brothers, much blessed, have fallen

To curse on their body and soul.

Each prayed and studied for

A reward coveted

By everyone who sees the light of day.

Eternal life, through disease and war,

To outlive the stars that give you light.

Each one received and each one held.

For centuries, the brothers lived

Through the crowing of a million roosters.

While despair surrounded those plagued by death,

Their own life shone: an angel in the wood.

But that day happened,

When they fell in love

With a mortal girl:

Each the same one.

They courted, made love,

Spent ecstatic years, until the wedding bells rang.

Then one brother discovered the other,

Who had been sharing the bed with his love.

The game was over, and the wedding hall burned;

Their bride fled to the streets.

Of no concern, for they duelled the night,

Blaming one another for the adulteress nymph.

Their swords clashed and pierced the flesh,

To no avail,

For immortality survives a wound.

And for years that passed, the locked in battle,

Trying to overcome each other.

Their love passed away, and the town fell to collapse,

Till all that remained was them.

Without hint of a stop, they fence through the age,

And uncounted extinguished candles.

You could find them still today,

Fighting as fresh as before.

The curse of immortality speeds to light,

As hatred takes hold of one's head.