---
id: "codex://object/ode-to-the-warrior"
archive_id: "ode-to-the-warrior"
slug: "ode-to-the-warrior"
url: "https://ndcodex.com/objects/ode-to-the-warrior/"
type: "scroll"
title: "Ode to the Warrior"
summary: "Words welded tight. with rampant rogue emotion. barring I stand up. Crush the reds up well. this should carry me today. manufacture cheer. Push the throttle down. until system and machine fail. and bells toll flatline"
date_published: "2026-05-14T01:09:32.084Z"
date_modified: "2026-05-14T01:09:32.084Z"
status: "published"
visibility: "public"
language: "en-US"
axes:
  scale: "meso"
  depth: "structural"
  focus: "system"
  function: "diagnostic"
themes: []
constellations: []
tags: []
keywords:
  - "Scroll"
author:
  id: "nathan-davis"
  name: "Nathan Davis"
  designation: "Archive Operator"
  role: "Archive Operator"
  handle: "@nathandavis"
  avatar: "/media/people/nathan-davis.jpg"
  bio: "Designer, builder, and curator of the Codex Archive."
contributors:
  - id: "nathan-davis"
    name: "Nathan Davis"
    designation: "Archive Operator"
    role: "Archive Operator"
    handle: "@nathandavis"
    avatar: "/media/people/nathan-davis.jpg"
    bio: "Designer, builder, and curator of the Codex Archive."
relations: []
media:
  - kind: "image"
    src: "/media/pigeon/scroll/ode-to-the-warrior-01.jpeg"
    role: "hero"
    alt: "6DA3EA29 5AAF 4FB5 B6D0 B76FA16B23F0 VSCO"
    capture: "[object Object]"
---
Words welded tight
with rampant rogue emotion
barring I stand up

Crush the reds up well
this should carry me today
manufacture cheer

Push the throttle down
until system and machine fail
and bells toll flatline

A staggering pace
blinding speed and velocity
flash, tears, static, applause

But the crew captain
what of the families aboard
what shall we tell them

Tell them passion won
tell them sacrifice was due
tell them glory called

What is reasonable
to ask for stars at high noon
how courteous of you

Time means something
it grants, reveals, pays respect
then returns the favor

Feather in your cap
celebration gathers round
while the absent sink

Was this your glory
is the honor theirs in death
what was bestowed here

To arms dear brothers
let us fight with blood and tears
this here is my land

And the mothers wait
hands folded near silent phones
counting every breath

Go boldly, make way
create a name for yourself
just to be forgotten

Reduced to a wall
our names and numbers hang
reminding the living

Somewhere children laugh
beneath flags and summer light
unaware of cost

Here we lie in dirt
put to rest by men in suits
lining their pockets

And the speeches roll
like polished ceremonial drums
across fresh turned earth

Ode to the warrior
the one we send to death

The land drinks every name
equally