Once upon a midnight dreary, Walker Boh was pondering, weary,
Over many a quaint and curious, volume of that Druid Lore,
While he nodded, nearly napping, suddenly he heard a tapping,
As of someone boldly rapping, rapping on a massive door,
Tis some visitor, he muttered, rapping on this fortress door,
This it is, and nothing more,
Ah, distinctly, he'd remember, bitter had been his dismember,
Now he sought warmth from each ember, dying in huge Paranor,
Eagerly he sought the morrow, vainly he had sought to borrow,
From that lore surcease of sorrow, sorrow for Shadowen lore,
For that raging, howling madness, which he sought the answers for,
Truth he sought, and nothing more,
And the silken, sad uncertain, rustling of each ancient curtain,
Thrilled him, filled him with fantastic fears he'd never felt before,
So that now, to still the beating of his heart, he stood repeating,
Tis some visitor, entreating entrance to vast Paranor,
Some kind visitor who's seeking warmth within these halls and lore,
This it is, and nothing more.
Presently his fears grew stronger, waiting not a moment longer,
Out he went and from the parapets, he let his vision soar,
Then he saw them, it was chilling, horror was within him filling,
For he knew they'd come for killing; bold and deadly Horsemen Four.
No kind visitor, these demons sought his life and Druid lore,
Evil come to Paranor.
Deep into the Valley peering, long he stood there, wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no Druid ever dared to dream before,
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And no word was ever spoken, but they stood there, at his door,
And the Druid wondered truly, if he could escape these four,
Or be trapped in Paranor.
Back into the Fortress turning, all his soul was in him burning,
Soon again he heard the tapping, somewhat louder than before,
Surely, said he, surely these are Shadowen come out of foulness,
Let me see, then, what the threat is, and this mystery explore,
Let my heart be still a moment, and these Shadowen explore,
I rule here in Paranor.
Opening a castle's room, he peered into the murky gloom,
And there he talked to Cogline of the meaning of these demon four,
Not the least obeisance made he, never did he think of some plea,
For he knew that he would soon be seeking some way through that door,
But the answers still were hidden from his ancient Druid lore,
While they circled Paranor.
Famine sat there death's head smiling, Pestilence all health defiling,
Death was cloaked in gnarled power, and the last was brutal War,
It seemed power beyond measure, things which would the killing treasure,
Grim and ghastly would be pleasure to these fiends of ancient lore,
Mockingly they walked with deathless arrogance beyond his door,
Challenging vast Paranor.
Cogline's steps were still ungainly, but his mind was spoken plainly,
Though his plans had little meaning—little relevancy bore,
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being,
Ever yet encountered demons such as these outside a door,
None could stand before their power, Nothing could withstand these four,
Waiting outside Paranor.
But the Horsemen, sitting lonely on their beasts, made only,
That one sound, as if their souls outpouring hammered on his door,
Nothing further had they uttered, weaker hearts would soon have fluttered,
But the Druid merely muttered, "I will conquer these vile four.
On the morrow I will leave thee, and my hopes will rise once more."
But they waited, Horsemen Four.
Startled by his thoughts unspoken, through the silence still unbroken,
"Doubtless," said he, "They know not the secret ways of Paranor,
In this castle I am master, this is not some wild disaster,
I can leave them ever faster while they watch and guard my door,"
And he surged with Hope for he was ages filled with Druid lore,
In his fortress, Paranor.
But the Horsemen still beguiling as around the fortress filing,
Straight the Druid sought a tunnel and a secret outside door,
Down into those tunnels sinking, of the future he was thinking,
Past the army he'd be linking with his friends to fight once more,
Past the grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous Horsemen Four,
Silent, he passed through the door,
Then he stood engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing,
Rode the Four with fiery eyes which burned into his bosom's core,
Death came at him soul divining, Famine like a coffin's lining,
War's red eyes upon him shining, Pestilence a buzzing roar,
They had found him waiting, watching, gloating were these deadly Four,
Caught outside of Paranor.
Then he thought the air grew denser, perfume from his fear's own sensor,
Swung a scythe and barely missed and chilled the Druid to his core,
‘Wretch', he thought, ‘what power lent thee—by the demons who have sent thee,
Respite—I need respite to gather strength and ancient Druid lore,
Quaff this nameless terror felt and seek that secret hidden door,
Back into dark Paranor.
‘Demons' said he, ‘things of evil!—demons worse than any devil
Shadowen here sent to kill or keep me in vast Paranor,
Desolate yet all undaunted, in my castle long enchanted,
In my home by horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore,
Is there—is there power to kill them—tell me—tell me, I implore!'
Silent was vast Paranor,
‘Demons,' said he, ‘things of evil—demons worse than any devil!
By the Heaven that bends above us, by that ancient Druid lore,
Though my soul with sorrow filling and my bones your power chilling,
Druids are not prey for killing by some demon predator,
I have powers yet unleashed within these halls of Paranor,
Powers and my Druid lore.'
Two days later Walker fought, again his life the demons sought,
And he learned he couldn't beat them, just his power against the Four,
Back they came from blasts of fire, soon he was in straits so dire,
Would that some lost Druid sire, speak to him of ancient lore,
But he'd learned from this encounter, as he fled from death once more,
And pondered in dark Paranor.
Soon the days reached out to ten and Walker came at them again,
Leaving early from his den he fought them with his Druid lore,
Illusion was the Druid's friend and now each other would they rend,
And soon three demons' lives did end, before the walls of Paranor,
They couldn't stand against each other, this he'd learned about the Four,
Fighting them near Paranor.
While he paused to take a breath, the last one came upon him, Death,
And nearly killed the Druid as they fought before vast Paranor,
But when the demon sought to end the Druid's life, appeared a friend,
And Cogline's magic now would blend with ancient scientific lore,
Knowing that his time was passed the old man though he was outclassed,
Fought with Death to his life's last, to give the Druid life once more,
Time to kill the last of Four,
Walker Boh with raging ire attacked his foe with burning fire,
And sweeping forward grabbed at Death before the walls of Paranor,
Within him did the power swell and burst into the demon's shell,
He sent it to its private Hell with Druid fire and ancient lore,
It was over, all were dead, those who'd come to Paranor,
He had killed them, Horsemen Four.
And the Druid, never fitting, still is sitting, still is sitting,
In that magic fortress which we've come to know as Paranor,
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the torchlight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor,
And the Four Lands's soul survives because his shadowed Paranor,
Shall be lifted, Nevermore.
Copyright 2000 by Robert A. Woodley. All rights reserved worldwide.
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