Karyn Went to War

3-19-06
Karyn went to war,
Left behind her father’s farm,
Left behind her brother’s tyranny.

Karyn went out into the unknown world,
Clean as a morning flower,
Innocent as a mourning dove.

But Humanity and his flaws.
Came and plucked Karyn from the soil in which she was planted,
Used her shamelessly.
And left her with a tiny fertilized seed inside.

Unbeknown, she bore Sin’s child.
So, debased,
Karyn went to war.

But our Mighty Ruler had a mighty plan for Sin’s child.
And He assigned two Angels to Karyn’s protection,
And the child’s successful nurturing.

But the angels failed Karyn and their all-seeing Master.

Karyn went to war.
Karyn went to war,
And it was the last place she ever went.

The child, Elana, was not born,
But her spirit lives on,
And wanders the Earth, condemned.
Elana’s spirit did not die,
But walks with white worn.

This poem is actually a very brief summary of the very beginning of an epic tale with many different characters. These are stories that my friends and I make together. We each have our own character and we make them interact with paper and pencil. Naturally as our characters develop, they acquire backgrounds. My character is one of the particular Guardian Angels mentioned in the poem. She failed Karyn and her child, and so was doomed to immortality on Earth by God.
So, therein lies my relationship with this fictional character. I was her Guardian Angel and I failed her; I let her die in the middle of a battle. In my carelessness, I stopped Elana from being born and fulfilling her destiny.
More realistically, however, chances are I would not have a relationship with Karyn at all; she lived her entire life on her father’s farm. When he passed on, she lived under her eldest brother’s tyranny with her two other brothers. The three of them endured John for many years. But one day the two younger brothers decided they had had enough and decided to enlist for the wars. Then alone under her brother’s tyranny, Karyn got three times more work. She soon followed in the younger brothers’ footsteps, disguised as a man. But her secret was discovered and she was raped. Unaware that she was now with child, Karyn still went to the battle the next day. And only a few minutes into the battle she was killed. Karyn never really knew anyone except her father, her brothers, and (technically) the man who raped her. She never even knew her mother.
Had Karyn actually survived the war and gone on to live a normal life in freedom with her child; I like to think that I would have been Karyn’s maid or midwife. Karyn is so brave and strong that I could never see myself as her equal. But as her maid, I would be able to talk to her, befriend her in a certain manner, and I would be able to help her raise Elana. This would be if I went back to her time. On the other hand, if Karyn were transported to this time period, I would like to think that she would be one of my college professors, or maybe one of the important individuals for whom I would play the role of interpreter in various languages as she travels around the world on various charity endorsing tours.
I like Karyn’s character so much because she got to go out and have an adventure. She got to break away from the tyranny of her everyday life and to start something for herself. She did it without scruple, and with an open mind. I live such a simple and sheltered life, (and though I am grateful), what is life without at least one adventure? I also admire Karyn’s patience and mind power. For her to deal with her older brother John for so many years is something I could never do. It’s something I’ve never had to do… Also, Karyn never let the fact that she was a woman hinder her. She never played on a woman’s supposed weakness. She simply wanted to be a person. She wanted to be a person and for people not to hold reserve for her simply because she was a woman. On the other hand, however, she never hated anyone for giving in to the stereotype; she never got angry at men that laughed at her weakness. She was never even angry at the man who raped her. She handled the situation so marvelously; in a manner that I could never have.
Karyn, in a way, represents what God asks us to be. She is what He envisioned us to be. She is the perfect angel, as my character was not. And sadly, there are very few people, especially today, who have as great of a character as Karyn. Humans are so strange; our nature compels us to do such strange things. I suppose I love Karyn so much because she is everything we will never be despite everything that The Lord has given us.

*raises an eyebrow* charity endorsing tours? what the Lord has given us? Christ, how long ago did I write this? Oh well. The piece is well written, although its point is not quite clear unless the assignment was known ahead of time. The poem is terrible, but we won't get into that.