there are many ways to bleed 
in this city under siege 
war is not without its novelties 
when the enemy is in the streets 
and each centimeter of ground 
takes on a meaning all of its own

does the flow of blood purify anything? 
or does its redness offer only a 
grotesque mock travesty of art to 
cobblestones centuries old?

the defense of this bastion of the republic 
was noble to the last man 
and now the survivors are led to an 
open field on the perimeter 
to an unassuming trench 
to meet their final fate

some broke out in laughter at the sight 
of the firing squad 
one clutched a crucifix and with 
the utmost of difficulty prayed 
the one next to him calm and collected 
showing no fear 
merely said in a fixed voice:
"Men only die for something that does not exist."