A man stood at the edge of custom,
As tall as a grave is deep.
His complexion a marbled stone,
With a fate he'd come to meet.
Dawn's whisper swayed his onyx locks
And tempered his beard of flame,
While the sun rose ever higher on the shadow
As if to honor his presence within its glade.
Despite the bite of Winter's wrath
He stood among them proud and valorous,
They launched spears with heavy glares
But his spirit was nigh relentless.
They knew he roamed their far-flung wood,
Though his origins remained unknown.
He then unsheathed his lustered blade
And threw its skin down in the snow.
"I've come this day to partake in battle",
It was said in their native tongue.
"Worry not of what I've to lose,
For whom I fear, there is none".
Upon hearing words that could never be unsaid,
Those girded men had drawn their swords.
While their lasses looked on in anxious awe
As if frightful for the lives of their boys and men, -
The outlander strode ever forward
And in the passing of but a mere second's tenth,
Mystic arts apexed within a squall
With each swing relayed just what he meant.
The northern tribesmen clinging to life
Had by this incarnation, been bested.
He cast aside his shard of metal
Got on one knee, leaned down and bent.
In front of him a bonfire,
A constellation in the human form.
Her mane the color of starlight;
Frail as glass, forest-born.
He saw her when they were younger,
Bathing in the waters of the fjord.
He had known ever since what he would do,
And for her hand he'd gone to war.
-
Author:
Nicholas Browning (
Offline) - Published: November 26th, 2021 10:20
- Comment from author about the poem: After struggling to write anything the last few days, an epiphany struck me square in the head whilst I slept. This scene played out like a movie in my mind and I had to write about it. I hope you guys enjoy.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 32
- Users favorite of this poem: Paul Bell, A Boy With Roses, jarcher54.
Offline)
Comments10
What a beautiful depiction
The script was laid
The movie played
With such beautiful words adorning the epiphany stood in play
When the muse comes calling down and through,
I lay my head atop the fibers,
And listen well to what she says,
For she knows that I'm a writer.
Thanks Spill. I'm glad you enjoyed!
A wonderful short poetry in reply
Your sure poetic at heart
A fine write N.
Well thank you my good sir. Did Elizabeth ever get around to giving you the title?
Surely a novel in the making here - the aspect of brandishing weapons to catch a lady's hand is so romantic - - you have a way with archaic honour dear NIc.
Thank you very much Fay. I feel it could use a bit of tidying up in places but that's usually the case for many I feel. I'm glad you enjoyed the read!
A little bit of Viking here, maybe even King Arthur. Only a man can go into battle for a woman, and rightly so.
This was epic.
You're a clever one, gotta keep my eye on you. Astute observations, my good man.
All joking aside; thank you very much.
Ah the good old romantic fable has stirred in your blood. The hero of mystery that haunts all our ego's.
Well done, enjoyed this.
I'm very much pleased to hear that you did! The tried and true, don't or do, as they say.
(No one says that. I just made it up.)
a tale told terribly well .. write on sir ..
Thank you for the kind visit my friend.
I do love men with a complexion like marbled stone, and the imagery in this poem is at a metaphorical peak. Beauty in words.
Same here lol. Thank you for the kind words, I'm pleased that you enjoyed it.
Epiphany's in Jan/Feb! Though I'm sure Christmas is June. Hmmm.
But epi...word means revealing, dawning, showing, etc. as you say.
Do shut up now Orchi. lol.
An ephimaniaphiny
Braveheart, King Arthur, Hercules... and even Scorpion King all in one. A writing of this calibre makes for impeccable scripting Nicholas. The story telling is out of this world. Much respect sir.
And the respect is reciprocated! Thanks a bunch for the visit Garth, a lovely addition to the day.
Fine craftsmanship and spirit to boot! A worthy contribution to the tradition that Garth referred to, hearkens back to Homer and Beowulf as well.
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.