I went through a phase of being obsessed with epic fantasy (see the post Fantasy Round-Up). I still like it, but it’s less of an obsession. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time series… the more epic, the better. So when I was assigned to write poetry in school I tried my hand at Tolkien-style epic poetry, and this was the result:
Terrnce, Krvel’s Bane
Over fields and happy places
Over town and dark, deep mountains
Over forest, and the faces
Of the desert, and by a lake
There is a castle, evil and grim
And Krvel, lord of dark, is there.
Lo, it is all because of him
That the land was dark and foul
That the lake was slaggy, that the grass was dead
That soil was leached, and piles of waste
Lay about, and that the dread
Of Evil haunts each stone and rock.
But lo, up to his castle
Rides a knight, his eyes like storms
His hair is dark, his arms are strong
The lurking evil ‘round him scorns.
A slave of Krvel comes out to him
“Why are you here?” he leers.
“I am Terrnce,” the stranger replies,
“Go tell Krvel to come here.”
Time does pass, and Krvel comes out
Dark is his raiment, sable his sword.
“I’ve come to regain my Lady Voä,”
Quoth Terrnce, “She belongs not to Krvel lord.”
“I did capture her,” Krvel laughed in reply,
“But she belongs to me alone
She suits me best, and because of that
She stays by Krvel, by his throne.
Unless, unless, you challenge me
And take up your sword and fight
Whoever wins shall have the lady
Whoever is greater in might.”
Terrnce, in reply his sword he drew
A fine sword, long, sharp, clean,
But Krvel, dark lord, drew his too
A cruel blade, wicked and mean.
Lady Voä Looked down from her window
And lo, what did she see?
Krvel, dark lord, down below
Fighting with- could it be he?
Terrnce, her knight, had come to save her
Save her from this evil lord.
Looking up, Terrnce saw her
And strengthened his resolve
To free fair lady Voä
And Krvel’s power to dissolve.
With a clash their swords met in mid-air
Krvel pushed Terrnce’s blade aside
But Terrnce struck back, himself to defend
Yet does not attack freely, his time he bides
Then with a clash their swords meet again
Striking and biting, as furious as snakes
Terrnce falls back, his sword by his head
Defends himself calmly, a deep breath he then takes
And attacks, like a lion, valiant and true
Krvel steps back, afraid for a moment
But strikes Terrnce’s sword; his mouth in a line
Terrnce’s arm trembles, yet he does not relent.
He leans back and pushes, he calls on his strength,
Gathering all his power, all in one heave
He hews at Krvel’s arm, at his chest, at his neck
Krvel falls dead, and Terrnce it can’t believe
Lady Voä is free!
Voä runs out to meet him, and hold out her arms
Terrnce hugs her, he loves her, and she is now his
Together they ride out into sunset and light
The terror of Krvel to never re-live
By the way, this is probably my last poem for awhile. Stay tuned next week for a new direction!
Hmm... 