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C.E. Skilling

Changing of the Guard

Ride the wind and see the world as it is
     was the promise I heard as a boy
     pick up the sword, polish the shield
     and forsake every man, the homemade toy

I’ll tell you a tale of a maid and her true love
     of a time when they walked in the night
     when legends were born and mystery ruled
     and goblins filled the realm with fright

Chargers snorted fire as they stood their ground in joust
     swords gleaming in the moonlight dripped with red dreams
     were cleaned with the good intentions of true chivalry
     while maids were covered in lace, with skin as soft as cream

Hear me young man as your breast pounds with fire
     you are as we who lived before
     filled to the brim with the pride of a knight
     standing here at the brink of deaths door

Know ye that payment must be received
     for that fire deep within your soul
     the Gods will not allow your glory
     without payment within the silver bowl

For the poor and lost have need of much help
     and a knight must deliver of himself
     if this noble deed be not taken
     his armor should be hung on the shelf

With lance and mallet will I fight the good fight
     and defend my lady fair
     for the blackness of evil descends on us here
     and covers my lungs as they scram for air

The sword thrust and parry
     I’ve known true and well
     as the hot sword tip of my enemy
     found my side and caused a great swell

To awaken without this dream, and find myself impaled
     on a wooden sword sharpened true and stout
     and a grandson pleading for another tale
     full of battle and glory, with the enemy in full rout