[Glaslyn] Gothic Poem, as requested

[Troop0341 at aol.com]

The Epic of the Cactus and the King

Also known as

The "Royal  Pain" of Melee and Taking a Bard to war



Written as the sun rose  the dawn following the Heavy Melee
during the Gothic Wars, which did occur  during the reign of their Majesties
King Aaron MacGregor and Queen Britta  MacGregor
Rulers of the Stellar Kingdom of Ansteorra
by the Ronin sohei  Takayama Harukaze no Tosa
who currently holds the honorary title of Bard of  Mendersham
in honor of the glorious exploits of our valiant, and most  merciful King on
the field of battle during the aforementioned melee and  war.

This same piece was also performed during the closing court of  the
aforementioned war, by the composing bard at the request of his 
Royal Majesty King Aaron MacGregor.



The air was still that  autumn day

as the widow's army made its way

across the fields of  Ansteorra.



Master Airaklee looked angrily

upon the sight  before him.

How dare this widow come to fight,

when all he wanted  was to see his wife.



Two armies now formed in rows

as  archers quickly nocked their bows.

A battle was looming, both sides  ready.



The order was given for the battle to begin,

both  sides confident that they would win,

and let battle prove their  cause.



Now scores of arrows filled the air,

but heavy  fighters do not care

about that rain of foam tipped death

or the  sting of rattan upon their heads.



Like two angry waves the shield  walls collide

and quickly many heavies died.

One side gave way as  they sometimes do

as fighters hollered, "I'm dead don't hit me you  fool!"



NOW ENTER OUR HERO!  (Random cheers from the  populace.)



The widow's army, a massive hoard

armed with  spears and rattan swords

made their way through the gap

and killed  some archers with just a tap.



Our Hero gripped his sword and  shield.

He was the KING and WOULD NOT YIELD!

Aaron MacGregor was  his name

and soon this battle would win him fame,

but maybe not  the kind he wanted.  (Funny looks and snickers from the  Bard.)



King Aaron was young, nimble, and quick

and he  wielded a really nasty stick.

He had a plan to win the day

and so  he boldly made his way towards his destiny.



King Aaron fought,  ran, and slowly gave ground

as one by one he cut his foes  down.

But there was one foe that he did not see

and soon it would  cause him much agony.



No one knows how it started, but this much  is known.

The air was filled with a painful groan.

King Aaron  cried out in agony,

"What the heck just happened to me?

What kind  of knight would have the gall

to strike the king once he did  fall?

What kind of fool would hit me now

that I am here upon the  ground?"



Chirurgeons came from all around

when they heard  the call of fighter down.

The assassins mark was easy to find.

It  was king's armor of cactus hide.



Yes, a prickly pear upon the  field

decided it's thorny pads it would wield.

Oh what a  humiliating  form of attack

to have a cactus stuck in your  back!



At a call for help four fighters came

hoping they  would spare their king pain

as one by one each thorn they  plucked,

but some did break and now their stuck.



So now  you know what happened that fateful day

when our noble king on his  stomach lay

with his back bristled like a porcupine

but being our  king he did not whine.



Yet in the end King Aaron walked off the  field

still holding his trusty sword and shield,

but in everyone's  mind their was no doubt

that it was the cactus that won this  bout!