The Horseman in the Hollow
Trying to get into the Hollow,
Being a Phantom, to it did I creep,
Knowing what waits behind its vail,
I get up close and take a good peek.
Of nothing dangerous do I see,
Yet knowing more lays in the lair,
I try another approach to gain
Such sight of things I must beware.
Great thickets such a maze do make,
I spin and crawl at every turn,
Drawing closer to the heart, I fear,
And inside, my soul begins to churn.
Yet I am Phantom, blue as night,
And boldy dost I forward tread,
For there are things I seek that I
Will soon make sure are good as dead!
A gleaming light, it lances out,
And covering eyes, I watch approach
A massive stallion, dark as night,
And the one upon who I encroach.
His lantern shines from on the pommel,
And sweat doth glisten on both as they ride,
My prey, he is not inside as I hoped,
But worse, he is coming and now I must hide!
But as he draws nearer, from under a bush,
My skin it does crawl from what I now see,
No head sits upon this man's massive frame,
But a pumpkin instead; Oh, how can this be?
The brambles split as the monster rode in,
And feeling emboldend, as well as quite muddy,
I watched him dismount, and take off his cloak,
Stabled his steed and entered his study.
How do I get in, I cried to myself,
For now he's away, tucked out of my sight.
I arose and ran fast, before much I missed,
Through the brambles I pushed and tore and gave fight.
I came to a window, black thoughts on my mind,
And looking on in, I suddenly gasped;
He had taken off his head--it sat there and shone,
And turned its gaze on me; I thought it my last!
But see me he didnt, as he drew out a book,
And began to take notes with a studious air.
Names was he writing, but why I knew not,
But I wanted to, now--oh, did I dare?
I found the doorway and silently crept
To where I could see the notes that I missed;
Clan Alphastrike it was, and turning he saw,
"Phantom Blue, there you are, the last on my list!"
And so as we sat, and dueled in the Hollow,
I realized just now as I played out my hand,
Despite the rumors I'd heard from the bridge,
The Headless Horseman wasnt such a bad man!
A Gift from Phantom Blue
Gavin McClements
October 31, 1997