Soldier of Fortune (Mercenary Blues)

I have fought in all wars

Some without a winner

And my loyalty goes

Out to the highest bidder

Kill without remorse

Maim without a care

Never turn down a job

If the contract is fair

My prices are steep

But my aim’s guaranteed

I can solve all your problems

Whatever your need

Revolutions, uprisings

Start and ended them all

I’ve seen kingdoms rise up

And I’ve seen good men fall

Today I’m your ally

But tomorrow, who knows?

I’m a soldier of fortune

And that’s just how it goes

©The Beginning At Last


Comments

34 responses to “Soldier of Fortune (Mercenary Blues)”

  1. Very powerful, and slightly terrifying, message here. Great read! 😊👏👏

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Kay. There are definitely people like that in this world.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh absolutely! Only loyalty is to that green paper.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I can’t say I don’t understand the sentiment to a degree.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I feel like the “to a degree” is very much key in your response. Unfortunately, we need it to survive… and we need a little more to feel “comfortable”.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. There is a metaphor in there that I have applied to my own life these days, so the poem is really just an extension of that. A bit if the mercenary mindset is not always a bad thing in certain situations.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. I completely agree, honestly. As long as you’re also loyal to yourself; at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Well, when I see all the people who follow the “me first” mantra, I realize maybe they’re onto something eventually lol

        Liked by 1 person

      7. THAT part! 📣👏 I’m learning these things, myself

        Liked by 1 person

      8. Harsh reality check 101: No one is going to ever give a damn about you as much as you do. Took me more than a minute to learn that.

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Me too; still working on “acceptance”. Not that I don’t know it, but still finding myself in situations where I care more 🤪

        Liked by 1 person

      10. It happens, I know. It’s all about finding the right mix really. Easier said than done of course.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much! 🙏

      Like

  2. There are those who feel this way.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There are indeed. And there’s a metaphor in there for the every day world as well.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Brilliant 👍

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you very much, Steven! 🙏

      Like

  4. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Excellent, Kevin. I love that you write from this kind of POV of someone I don’t want to put myself in the shoes of, but is definitely out there, hopefully not in in abundance it feels some days.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Stephanie. I am not going to lie – I think a bit of this mindset is necessary in everyday life. It’s about the balance. Too unselfish is just as unhealthy as too selfish.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Stephanie Avatar
        Stephanie

        Maybe so, but it’s very hard for me to think that way. I always feel as though the time I choose to be selfish I’ll end up hurting the last person I’d want to hurt. Maybe I tend toward catastrophic thinking, or that I can simultaneously not make any difference while being the very deciding factor?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. “Selfish” might have been too harsh a word on my part, but prioritizing oneself. It’s a tad selfish, but it’s needed.
        I’m not condoning cruelty, but take a job for instance…
        I gave 13 years of my life to a company I really, truly cared about, and while the fact that I am no longer there is a good deal my own fault to a degree, there is also a degree of fault on their side. They did not give me the support I needed as I took on more and more, they did not try to help me push pause when the warning signs were there and my judgement was clouded. They just let it happen because I was getting shit done for them. Fair enough.

        Now? Now, I will still give you my absolute best effort, but I will not compromise my health or happiness for you, and quite honestly, my loyalty goes to the highest bidder. If someone offers me more money to jump next month to another job, I’m gone. I don’t care if I am there a week, a year or a decade. Me first, not them.
        /rant
        😄

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Stephanie Avatar
        Stephanie

        Sadly, this is the guidance I give my kids about their workplaces as well, because one can’t fix a whole systemic mindset by themselves, but they can be aware of it, and try not to harm others while taking care of themselves. I’m not good at this (should have left my current job a long time ago, for instance), but when you describe your situation, agree 1000%!

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Well, take it from me, if you are having that feeling, perhaps it’s time to go with it. I had that same intuition about one of my previous jobs and I wish to God I had followed it.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Stephanie Avatar
        Stephanie

        I can hear that, with all the gravity of hard-earned experience, and it does weigh with me. Thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Anytime 😊😊

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Stephanie Avatar
        Stephanie

        🙏

        Liked by 1 person

  5. When I saw the image, I thought someone should write something intense and powerful and you did just that. Very thought provoking on how things are at times.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Kimber. I shot from the gut on this one. A lot of truths in there that I have finally accepted.

      Like

  6. Damn Kevin! These are some “words to maim” lol 🤪

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Indeed. I’m in my IDGAF phase atm.
      My loyalty goes to the highest bidder.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. IDGAF does help most of the time

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It does. Not always easy to do, but when done, effective.

        Liked by 1 person

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