The Huntsman and the Unicorn
Once upon a time, 'tis said,
Yet not so long ago,
A king did take a second wife;
He never thought of woe.
His daughter, sweet and pure of heart,
Did serve the wedding feas.
'Twas then the queen felt envy's touch,
And love was in her pieced.
One morning bright the maid did go
Into the forest green.
And deep within was Unicorn,
A sight she'd never seen.
They laughed and played all through the day
Until the moon did rise.
And then the princess knew her lot,
Her state she did apprize.
Soon the king was sick with fear and
Heard of a wick sight,
A unicorn was seen that morn
To run with maid in flight.
A huntsman came before the Crown
And begged to hunt alone.
"I'll not return without the maid,
Or life from me has flown."
The queen assured him this was right,
And bade him go with speed.
She knew the princess was secure,
Her lies would now mislead.
The huntsman was both swift and sure,
Not long he searched the wold.
and there he found the unicorn
Beside the princess, bold.
"Touch not this beast or lose thy life!"
The maiden cried in fear.
The huntsman stopped with spear upraised;
The maiden wept a tear.
"This noble beast has done no harm,
Nor stirred a single hair.
His gentle hooves have saved me
From many a dragon's lair."
The huntsman dropped his deadly spear
As tears formed in his eyes.
He could not kill the unicorn;
His heart was filled with lies.
The queen had said to slay the beast,
For with it danger came;
To steal the children of the king
And kill them was its aim.
But here he found it gently laid
Upon a maiden's lap.
It's eyes looked deep into his heart,
His soul it sought to tap.
He saw and knew the unicorn
Would never hurt a child.
It softly raised it's lithe body,
And stood so meek and mild.
The maiden told him of the times
The unicorn had fought
And chased away the hungry men
Who raped without a thought.
The king's daughter looked at him, and
There he saw the truth.
The queen was jealous of her faith
And wished for her youth.
The huntsman knelt before the pair,
Tears streaming down his face.
"I cannot kill this noble beast,
Lest honor I disgrace.
I've served the king, and both his queens;
My life to them I've given.
But now I must refuse their wish,
My heart is sorely riven."
The unicorn stepped to his side,
And bent his noble head,
And the huntsman's feet he laid
His ivory horn turned red.
The princess sat in shocked silence,
The huntsman dared not breathe.
The unicorn then left them both,
The forest did him sheathe.
The huntsman took the princess home.
And satisfied the queen.
He never told another soul
Of what he'd heard and seen.
The king rejoiced to see his child,
Whole and home at last.
The princess asked him for the horn,
Lest she forget the past.
And with the blood red horn in hand,
She knelt before the queen.
Her Majesty then wept with grief,
Her voice began to keen.
For now she saw the pain she'd wrought,
And knew regret's keen edge.
Never again would she crave youth,
Nor seek to drive a wedge.
Rowane
copyright June 1989
The Battle for Anne
Darrin the Brave many clans did command
With Anne the White ruling at his hand.
They made their love known throughout the land,
'Til Allyn the Gold came with his band.
Queen Anne was gracious and took him in,
Trusting the code of the paladin.
For Allyn's fame before him did ride,
As bright as sharp Singer at his side.
None of them felt the turning of tide
That made Fair Anne the crux of men's pride.
Gold Allyn's heart was unoccupied
Until he saw beauty personified.
Through the night his love intensified;
For want of Anne his oaths he defied.
He gathered his men 'ere dawn was nigh
And took Fair Anne from her tower high.
Anne fought, and tried her gyves to untie
As they silently the gate passed by.
But in the dawn the guards did espy
Allyn with Anne on horseback did fly.
'Ere they were gone Darrin heard Anne's cry,
"Brave Darrin and clans will see you die!"
King Darrin gathered his clans and road
After Allyn, Anne's words a goad.
They flew over hills, through forests green,
'Til they met on a plain yet serene.
King Darrin was willing to spare lives
If Allyn would now release Anne's gyves.
But Allyn was proud and would not yield.
He sent Anne to the edge of the field.
And thus the ancient battle began
That cost the blood of many a clan.
Day after day the battle did span
Until one morn spoke a single man,
"Let he who would be king stand and fight
The crowned King until night.
The the gods will prove which blessed knight
Will win the hand of Queen Anne the White."
The men drew close, the field was arrayed
With shields and flags of the dead displayed.
King Darrin was first upon the field;
Young Allyn drew bright Singer to wield.
The two fought in earnest through the morn.
Each gave the other cuts to adorn.
Blow against blow each hand did uphold,
Darrin the Brave and Allyn the Gold.
The day grew longer, the battle grew bold;
Then the clans knew that Darrin was old.
Shining Allyn swung the fatal blow.
King Darrin fell in the sun's last glow.
Quietly the clans drew back to show
Queen Anne where her husband lay so low.
Down she knelt, with no heed to her gown,
And touched the locks of his hair so brown.
Then from his head she took the great crown
And placed it on Allyn's head bowed down.
Queen Anne the Fair then uttered a sigh,
Drew a deep breath with tears in her eye,
"Make mournful sound, then let the bells ring;
The King is dead. Long live the King!"
Rowane
mka Katilou Curry
copyright October 1989
untitled
Bright burns the
Flame; yet it is the
Coals which give
Warmth.
Bright glows the
Soul; yet it is the
Heart at its
Center which
Sustains us.
Rowane
_Tears_
Tears.
Small drops of
Crystal
Creating rivulets of
Pain
After you have
Gone.
Rowane
My poem about Autumn
At long last the heat of late Summer is broken.
The North Wind chases off the South,
Bringing crisp coolness to air once heavy with humidity.
Rain once again falls, cleansing the air and renewing the earth.
My single white roses bloom once again.
It is Harvest Time!
All are busy at the reaping;
Even the fat squirrel is too busy digging,
Hiding his Winter stash,
To notice me until I am almost on top of him.
The rose's cousins, Apple and Pear,
Now are ripe, as is the Grape.
Who could forget?
It is also the time for
Pomegranates,
Ancient food of Persephone,
A reminder that Winter is soon upon us.
The light from the sun seeming
Longer, as if it is
Caressing the earth softly after his
Summer harshness, so that
She remembers his warmth even as
They each rest 'til
Spring."
Rowane
October 98
_Daughter of Song_
1.
Auburn locks fall in
Waves upon
Her slim shoulders.
A hoarse voice
Grunts a lewd exaltation.
The razor-sharp rapier
Slips silently from its sheath and
Ends the conversation before it
Begins.
2.
slim fingers gently carress a
Mandolin.
Warmth emanates from the
Vibrations of cat-gut against wood
Like purrs from a kitten's throat;
Each note hangs in the air like
A bird upon a breeze.
The golden tones weaving tales of times past
While the barkeep pours 'til dawn.
3.
Her rich, velvet voice
Cast a spell upon
The crowd.
The stood as statutes,
Mesmerized by her songs.
Each listener felt as if
She sang for him or her alone.
Love and admiration pealed from their hands
As she finished her songs.
4.
Deep, clear eyes which
Pierce with eagle-accuracy
Into the depths of the soul.
Hands strong enough to
Move mountains and men.
Feet light, though they
Know the weariness of the road.
A mouth which flows from
Emotion to emotion.
The bard gains tools of
Power through these and
Shapes the fate of man.
(copyright 4/83)
Rowane
_Editors_
I hand you my
Soul on blue-lined
Pages filled with
Emotions drawn by
Ink.
My blood staining the
Purity of your
Thoughts.
And I sit here
Wondering what you must
Think of me,
If you think I'm
Crazy,
Or if you simply
Pity me for being
Pessimistic.
Perhaps one day I'll
Find out what you
Think of me by
Reading time worn
Comments.
(copyright 1/81)
Rowane
The works contained on this page remain the sole property of the Author known as Rowane. Any use of these works without written permission from the author herself is a breach of copyright.
