Editing Grimdark Songwriting (section)

==='Twas The Night Before Emperor's Day===

'Twas the night before Emperor's Day,<br>
and he fought all alone,<br>
in a four foot deep trench<br>
lined with plasteel and stone.<br>
<br>
I was traveling the warp<br>
with gifts for the land,<br>
when I saw this lone guardsman<br>
making his brave stand.<br>
<br>
I looked all about,<br>
I looked near and far,<br>
no Chimera, no Basilisk,<br>
nor Techpriest or Commissar.<br>
<br>
No Sergeant yelled orders<br>
to this guardsman - no backing<br>
to fight this ridge full of xeno<br>
formed from pure evil, attacking.<br>
<br>
His armor in tatters,<br>
his eyes nearly blind,<br>
A sobering truth<br>
raced through my mind.<br>
<br>
His position was doomed,<br>
was my only thought<br>
and this soldier's brave stand<br>
would all be for naught.<br>
<br>
The guardsman stared unblinking,<br>
silent and alone,<br>
his lasrifle at the ready<br>
against his shoulder bone.<br>
<br>
His gaze was so calm<br>
in the face of calamity,<br>
the perfect picture of<br>
a guardsman of humanity.<br>
<br>
Who was this brave hero<br>
whose position I'd spied,<br>
warring against<br>
this unstoppable tide?<br>
<br>
I now knew that all humans<br>
I would see this night,<br>
owed their lives to these guardsmen<br>
who were willing to fight.<br>
<br>
Soon all round the galaxy<br>
the children would play,<br>
and grownups would praise<br>
the bright Emperor's Day.<br>
<br>
They all lived their lives<br>
every month of the year,<br>
Because of brave guardsmen<br>
like the one standing here.<br>
<br>
A tear came to my eye<br>
for those who stood alone,<br>
on a cold Emperor's Day Eve<br>
on a planet far from home.<br>
<br>
Their great sacrifices<br>
I could never betray<br>
So I drew my burning sword<br>
to join in the fray<br>
<br>
The soldier did turn<br>
and I heard a rough voice.<br>
"My Emperor, rest easy,<br>
this death is my choice;<br>
<br>
I fight for a freedom<br>
that may never be found,<br>
but not ever shall I waver<br>
on Your sacred ground."<br>
<br>
Then the Guardsman turned<br>
to face the incursions<br>
of the foul xenos and<br>
their unholy perversions<br>
<br>
I kept watch for hours,<br>
until the night was still<br>
and the guardsman lay broken<br>
on the bloody red hill.<br>
<br>
I could not just leave<br>
on that cold grim dark night,<br>
this guardian of honor<br>
so willing to fight.<br>
<br>
And as the guardsman lay dying,<br>
his soul strong and pure,<br>
he cried, "Ave Imperator!<br>
It's Emperor's Day! This world is secure!"<br>
<br>
I kneeled before the fallen,<br>
A great victory he'd won.<br>
"Happy Emperor's Day my guardsman,<br>
rest in peace, my son."<br>