"Torn"

They were only games
Until we had to pay.
He said we should
Be thankful
For the punishment.
But how could we
Have known?

Nights came
And nights went.
We all payed our fair share.
The punishments came;
They changed with the moods
And with the game.

We protected them.
They feared us.
We decided to make it
A game.
They sent us down
Into the rookery
Where we were to
Await the dawn.

We felt ashamed.
We tried to protest,
But they sent us in
And closed the door
And left us four
Alone
With our thoughts.

The dawn came.
The dusk came.
But the door remained
Closed.

We waited
Alone
Until the sound
Of his cry
Echoed through
The silent night.
We risked further punishment
We pulled at the door
And left the rookery.

Treachery. Fire. Loss.
They were gone.
Only us six remained.
Alone.
Betrayed.

We tried to go on.
He wanted revenge
For those who had died
Betrayed.
And so we went on
But were further betrayed.
Frozen.
Sleeping through the ages.
Waiting.

The castle rose.
The spell lifted
And we again
Awoke.

One thousand years
Had gone
And we were freed
And again betrayed.

But this new life
Which we have been given
Is well worth the discipline
Of a thousand years past--
The punishment
Meant to harm
Has saved our lives;
Has sent us here.

The pain of betrayal
Fades with these
New sights,
New sounds
But never quite goes.
The sun which heals
The wounds of the night
Can never heal
The pain of our loss,
The hurt of deceit.

But here
We have things
We could not have
If none had betrayed;
If none had been betrayed.
I am torn
Between old and new.
Sorrow and joy.
The past...
The present...
The future....

They are gone
And we are here.
He said we'd thank him
For discipline given.
He said
He'd make it up to us.
How could we know
Just what
That day would bring?
Just how
We would thank him?
Just how
He would make it up?

How could we ever
Express gratitude
To those who
Brought us here?
Even those
Who betrayed
But brought this change
Should be given
Recognition
For their part.

My brothers and I
Miss our world
Of days gone by,
But would they return?
I think I would not.
Though torn,
I would choose to stay
If given a chance.

The future here
Holds more
Than war
Famine
Disease
Revolt.

The change
Though difficult
Is not something
I would refuse
If time were turned back.
If we could go back
Before that night
And live it again,
Knowing what lay ahead,
I would not refuse
The spell.

The punishments--
Whether
Deserved
Or
Unnecessary--
Brought us here.

And we cannot
Ever
Go back.