Homestead Knights
(for Arthur and Kay, before the Stone)
In the paddock’s dawn‑mist,
we joust with broom‑handles,
helmets dented from
last winter’s wood‑pile war.
Kay swears his steed
is faster than mine —
though both are milk‑cart ponies
with hay in their manes
and the patience of saints.
Our shields are feed‑bin lids,
our gauntlets, mother’s old mittens;
we ride the fence‑line
as if it were the edge of the realm.
Between chores,
we patrol the creek ford,
banish thistles from the path,
and guard the henhouse
from foxes real and imagined.
At night,
we sit on the porch steps,
boots steaming in the cool,
and plan the next day’s campaign —
whether to conquer the far paddock
or finally dare the dark of the shed.
Somewhere beyond the hill,
a stone waits in its clearing,
but for now
the kingdom is here:
two knights of the homestead,
sworn to the crown
of the rising sun.
but for now
the kingdom is here:
two knights of the homestead,
sworn to the crown
of the rising sun.
.
-
Author:
crypticbard (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: September 16th, 2025 03:56
- Category: family
- Views: 23
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, Kevin Hulme, Tristan Robert Lange
Offline)
Comments9
Deceptively childish and nostalgic this poem fits each of us in our daily fantasies and dreams. We have not come far in our journey from childhood to old age only the weapons and images have changed. There is a theme in this poem that dives deep to the core of man where we all remain children changing only our outward armor. Inside we are still those boys and girls chasing dragons and winning the princesses hand for imagination never dies and we all want to live happily ever after. A definite fave my friend
Thanks so much Soren. That is a wonderful interpretation that I am sure would resonate with many that eventually will read this. Most appreciated, dear friend.
Good write A.
Oh, thanks O! Fido would love this one, read it out to them for size🙏🕊️
Charming and for me complete view of one kind of a childhood world, Rik.
Enjoyed thoroughly.
A kind of childhood that’s becoming rarer each year. Thanks Dave🕊️🙏🏻
A beautiful poem. Not sure why it brought to my "When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall". Can't recall which song or who sang it though.
“First of May”? Jackson Five? 🕊️🙏🏻
Now I remember - it was Bee Gees
Oh, ok. I’ll have to look it up and refresh my memory!
So enjoyed this. Brought back memories of my own Childhood playing with my Brother.
I used to play 'Dr who' and the Wardrobe was the 'Tardis'. One day it toppled over with me inside 😂
A Childs Imagination is a Wonderful thing.
A fine Poem.
Oh my! I vaguely remember a similar scene 🎬 in my childhood play👍🏻🕊️🙏🏻
That moment of “boots steaming in the cool” stays with me…it grounds the whole piece, reminding us these knights were kids first. Such a vivid, human touch, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Probably a day well lived by any standard! Thanks Tittu 🙏🙏🕊️
Wonderful words Rik taking me right back to my childhood, sword fighting and firing bows and arrow but we were never hurt and had wonderful playful days.
Thank you for bringing those memories to me once more.
Andy
Glad we shared similar childhoods
You capture the adventures we would go on in our imagination. A fine write.
Thanks Tom, a truly rewarding enterprise 🕊️🙏🏻
this is so very descriptive of what the children do - and the pics add to the beautiful effect; well represented - brings back lovelymemories for so many readers
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