A Flight Shot

We were twin brothers, tall and hale,
Glad wanderers over hill and dale.


We stood within the twilight shade
Of pines that rimmed a Southern glade.


He said: "Let's settle, if we can,
Which of us is the stronger man.


"We'll try a flight shot, high and good,
Across the green glade toward the wood."


And so we bent in sheer delight
Our old yew bows with all our might.


Our long keen shafts, drawn to the head,
Were poised a moment ere they sped.


As we leaned back a breath of air
Mingled the brown locks of our hair.


We loosed. As one our bow-cords rang,
As one away our arrows sprang.


Away they sprang; the wind of June
Thrilled to their softly whistled tune.


We watched their flight, and saw them strike
Deep in the ground slantwise alike,


So far away that they might pass
For two thin straws of broom-sedge grass!


Then arm in arm we doubting went
To find whose shaft was farthest sent,


Each fearing in his loving heart
That brother's shaft had fallen short.


But who could tell by such a plan
Which of us was the stronger man?


There at the margin of the wood,
Side by side our arrows stood,


Their red cock-feathers wing and wing,
Their amber nocks still quivering,


Their points deep-planted where they fell
An inch apart and parallel!


We clasped each other's hands; said he,
"Twin champions of the world are we!"