Imported Poems

I

In ancient times, in an ancient city
set upon a hill aside the darkened sea
resided a youth, more delicate and pretty
than any maid or woman be.

Fairer than the sun, whose envious eyes
cast glances through gilded shrubbery,
but naïve in thought, he longed for battle
to meet his enemy.

Though born from man was no man who bore him,
but Beauty from Love’s hard labored night,
admist her cries she birthed two sons –
one sable, the other pure white.

And like their heavenly counterparts
betwixt the two their separate natures loved
the lighter for noon’s bright bursting orb
the darker for the moon above.

But fate, with less than nought to do
and inclined to meddle when unamused
produced a third from Beauty’s fertile womb
- a lady hued of neutral tone –
whose virtue proved
a gift to curse both of her brothers.


II

For as the sun ascended its mountainous height
sweet Legolas, the sky-eyed beauty of the twins
alighted his noble steed and with fearsome flight
hastened to his brother to make amends.

When from a field adjacent to the trail,
sole beauty’s daughter espied her fairest kin,
and traveled through the densely wooded vale
for a choicer spot from which to view him.

�What man-child is this?� saith she,
“who troubles such patient air,
and with dart and dashing rouses
the settled dust
the lazy fox from its lair?�

But discerning him she quickly corrects
“Tis no man-child, but only a man
though ill-mannered in racing
with such clamorous pacing
to transverse this silent land.

Then as rare beauty oft goes unheeded
by commonplace declared too strange to Love
til time waxes all things familiar
and fond thoughts beg thought's desire come
so Legolas’ stunning looks soon won
the aim of Terra’s ambition.

“Oh beauty engendered,� she sighs softly,
whose pearls brighten with their fixed gaze,
crown of all men, more comely than maid,
both's virtues did marry thy face.

Thy red lips, wide eyes and high cheeks
to which imperfection, disdaining, objects
like sinewy lines on a prize-possessed mare
prove the pedigree hath no defects.�

She soughed, she sighed, she bit her lip
quite nervous from her heart's despair
this youthful boy's sore petulance
had pricked her lust; she smoothed her hair
and stood up in hopes
he's see her there.

"Fie son of man, or manly son
what spurs you in this sultry hour?
the pig's asleep, the hare entombed
and e'n the blinding sunlight cowers?

Are you a fool who hath a wife
that takes a man to take his life?�

“Were I so dense to have a wife
I’d take her with Love’s firm device
and with this tool I’d screw her dead
then nail her to our wedding bed."

"Thy saucy boy! Thy brazen lad!
For perversion’s crime they’d have your head!�

“Ahead I’d be though from behind
I’d perpetrate my wanton crime.�

"A loosened screw surely beget thee
a white-warped nut, I'll not attend thee."

"Riveting I'd feign not to be
but sick spoken in thy company.
Still, tis a grief that can be undone
if thou will slacken the slipknot some."

"I'll loose the noose from around thy neck
if for the deed I'd gain respect."

"Correctness counts for little scoring
I’d respect thee more in the morning.
But for my dalliance in this rhyme
I'd made my brothers in half the time."

"Speed thee to thy brothers today?
And there's no lady in the way?"

"None save thee, and if I knew thee less
I think thee strive too much in jest."

"Wink but once and I'll be your wife.
Wink thee twice and I'd save you strife,
though underneath this shaded tree
death would kiss us as you can see,
so if my castle you'd storm to win
return home now and come again."

"For thy fortress I’d command the day
to surrender now, though he’d not obey.
Look for me as cockcrows rise
to greet their god in the morning sky."

Terra (alone):
“Never did two brothers alike in form
dissent in hue’s humor, as if by adversaries born
to wage war against the other.

But precious Legolas, the fairest of the twins
by propensity less aggressed than his brunette kinman
I fear would fare far worse, to lose afore he’d win.

Oh wound be gone! Fright fails me at this late hour
and I’ll depart for his crafty brother,
who by the blood of others
his wicked life by death sustains,
that I might gain by chance
some advantage for my bosom’s lust,
the crown of my king, sweet Legolas."

III

But woe! for deep within that forest pitch
resides a brutal, savage wit!
A loveless leech! As artful a mind
as ever was spawned by the devil's design!
And from this beast, his lustful passion brewing
streamed lover's lies by slight suggestion wooing
to gain fair Terra's trust,
though for his need she must die.

But Terra, sensing dishonesty ensuing,
like a fetid spring whose toxic waste is spewing
matched wit for wit, and for virtue's sake removing
to a private place, by night encased
she fled for home.

But this villainous brood, his fierce fury thus incited
by Terra's tale betrayed and for his love unrequited
seized upon her fleeting figure with brutal power
to rape and ravish her, then lock her in a tower.

IV

He rises with eyes shot wide
like sultry summertime in June
craving the rush of rain,
the raging river of Autumn's harvest,
all dressed in glittery gold
and darker days, those rays shine less
though not distressed,
it's just another shift in mood.


Galloping, Galloping, Galloping
into the neverworld of my reality
shimmery sunsparks catch flight
on his face, an eye or a cheek,
(his beauty speaks freely)
broken into a million pieces
by the falling leaves

Blackout.
Seems like a crime, a sin, or a vicious lie
to pitch black on white, to fracture
pure perfection with frilly vines
or bright sunlight.

Though many would disagree
man is beauty's greatest achievement
her proudest fare, for if she'd
preen on green or flickering fall
she'd truly be fraudulent.

She knows it too, for his is the fairest hue,
tendered winter white with red roses
and a slip for lip - oh that gorgeous lip! -
a red crescent cast high in the sky
for us to see but not to reach.

Were I to die, let me die lingering
on these lips, having savored
the full flavor of their soft innocence,
their buttery caresses; pray time collapses
before the moment passes.

But enough. Too much time
spent on poorly constructed rhyme.
(Back to our story.)

Where are you going young elf,
and have you now heard?
Did that small blackbird carry
you the message on its wing?


V

Now, this dark brother’s
fragile face was no less fair,
By coco colored orbs or brunette hair
That graced his highest cheek and softest chin
Or shone by muted contrast against pale skin.

And his kisses, like his brothers, were lusty red
His pink lips tainted deep but where she bled
And she, though by protest, sought dissent
was secretly pleased, beguiled by such argument

So Gawain du Coudray he ruled her will
And by his brutal love her body killed
But in her murder twas marriage made infernal
In life death departs but death by death’s eternal

VI

In the dawning light, by the candy-coated sky
Legolas arose, and packing his bags, pled good-bye
With seventy strong of angels and noble men
They fled to Count du Coudray’s sordid den

The morn, though light, darkened in forest deep
Where no good creature lived but many slept
And nocturnal eyes mid trees like living dead
their fiery beams of madness imparting dread

When Lo! The gruesome forest yielded crop
Like flowers in fair gardens so corpses rotted
Secreting a putrid stench so rank and vile
It stained their clothes and followed for half a mile

Finally they espied the troubled fortress
The eyes of elves discerned the pointed arches
The double towers stood on either end
With the drawbridge gate betwixt them to defend

Then Legolas, the bright and bravest of all the Elves
Called forth his fiendish brother beyond the walls:

“Oh wicked brother, within you house my heart,
Free my lovely Terra and I shall now depart.
But if you resist, I warn you, I shall not withhold,
My ruddy sword, twin blades and perfect bow.�

“You jest fair brother, seems gold has made you mad
And pretty locks work wonders in virgin beds,
In playing games of love and lovers fine,
But tis pride’s weakness when goads a warring mind.�

“Big teeth do not distress me
A beaver’s tryst by luck beget thee
Though you’d strive to take a bite
With wooden arrow I’d surely strike�

From within then came a laugh
A daunting, haunting snicker
That forced some cowards back
And sent traitors running quicker

But Legolas, who knew no fear,
So much that Fear was frightened,
Mocked his brother’s sneer,
With wit and jeers enlightened

Like beating wings a-bustling
Above there came such rustling
then descended a sanguine band
To devour and slay each man.

A terrible battle thus ensued,
Betwix the lighter and the black
Though many mortals passed by
The Elves drove the Vampires back.

A wooden arrow whose aim was true,
From Legolas bow it sped
Splitting Gawain's heart in two
A stake that struck him dead.

Then the bleak sky commenced to fall
Into puzzle pieces cracked,
And collapsed upon them all
Though the Elves they made it back.

Now, if folk legends can be true
and ancient myths can be believed,
then Terra of Gawain despaired
though to Legolas she later cleaved
with arms and pallid legs
that girded round his waist
to embrace his lovely figure
whist a kiss upon him placed

Then death, the macabre priest,
a new marriage made eternal
betwix the fair-faced Legolas
and the sweet Terra-Firma