The Journey

Through sunlit hills and broken wills,
A horseman dared to trod.
He rode a mare of clean white hair,
A merchant, his facade.

He fought his way through mountains gray,
And 'cross the rivers deep.
A moment's rest was never blessed,
In saddle he did sleep.

The horse was strong though journey long,
And rode hard four days' run.
No bite to eat, nothing to keep,
Its body moving on.

The fifth day came but not the same,
The end was drawing nigh.
Across the bridge, across the next ridge,
Sat the castle standing high.

The furious knight drew sword at first light,
And horse and rider drove hence.
He let loose a roar, never heard before,
And never repeated since.

The noblest knight, his sword burning bright,
Rode out to meet this great boon.
He rode on the back of a Nightmare in black,
To show of the enemy's doom.

A fierce battle ensued between brave knight and true,
As the rain began a small flood.
But then with a shout the white horse gave out,
And breathed its last in the mud.

The noble black knight sneered down in spite,
"Go home now, your time is through."
The white knight stood still through the rain and the swill.
His sword from its sheath he re-drew.

With a great mighty blow he cut horse from foe,
The noble black knight stood in pain.
The strong knight struck out with a terrible shout,
As both fighters battled the strain.

All through the night, they cursed in their fight,
With black metal clashing with strong.
Upon the next morn, both bodies were torn.
A lone wolf took up their song.

The tough bitter ground, their burial mound,
Where daisies now grow like wild fleece.
Through all of their life, their pain and their strife,
In death, they finally found peace.

• On Tuesday, November 27, 2007, Sketso (730) wrote:
  
  Nice flow, although it bobbled in places (I probably read it wrong), and interesting theme... the futility of conflict often still provides a moral.
  
  
• On Tuesday, November 27, 2007, RubyXero (525) wrote:
  
  That flowed beautifully. interesting how in the end no one won...but the wolf ;)
  
  
• On Monday, November 26, 2007, Wolfaerie (100) wrote:
  
  Lovely. The meter is fluid, consistent. Your words took me into another world beautifully. " In death, they finally found peace." - knock-out ending. I love your work thus far. Welcome to DP :)