WAR & PEACE: By Leo Tolstoy

(9/10)

Young or old, bookworm or gamer, boy or girl, nevertheless we all have heard about War and Peace at least at some point in our lives, somehow.

Now what's special about this novel? Well for starters, its not a novel, much less an epic poem, even much less an epic saga. It is a vast ocean of humanity. From topics like history to literature, battle tactics and warfare to love and romance, from elegant ballrooms to grotesque live-taking battle fields, from music to canon fires, from philosophy to psychology, society to government, this particular book covers it all. Everything. For me it is one the greatest books ever written.

The theme starts with topics regarding love, life which is quite common in the rich societies and slowly we can feel the darkness rising, the tremor, the black clouds approaching from France marching towards Russia; its none other than the historical legendaire Napoleon Bonaparte, as he invades Russia. Everything is portrayed with vivid color and imagination, themes of sorrow, happiness, gratitude, sacrifice, love and et cetera... in the most dynamic way possible.

War and Peace, well you don't simply read it but, you live it.

And this poem is totally inspired by a scene and some characters from War and Peace (the scene where Anatole and Andrei Bolkonsky are on death bed).

A Soldier's Bride

Always does one wonder

What life holds for thee;

Until he walks the mile and yonder

The pain and suffering that comes to be.

Nobody can foretell the moment -

The line that separates life and death;

For life is all about Peace and War

And death, the pride of one last breath.

But what is this pride

If not a soldier's cry?

Kissing death as one kisses his bride,

Bleeding of warmth as his blood runs dry;

Staring up above at the lofty sky

Tears of farewell stream down his eyes;

Looking at his brother he says Goodbye

For now 'tis the only Truth and no more lies.

Pain and anger, loath and envy

None of that holds any account no more;

For its all forgiven when death draws nigh,

As the eyes searches for the Heaven's Door.

Quenching for some peace at death

As life was all about war;

The soldier draws for one last breath

Exhaling his soul afar.

So often do I inquire why

One needs to wonder and give a sigh;

For life is only a matter of time -

Do not sit idle and let it pass by.