"A Great Lord´s Pride (revised)" by Larry N. Morris

A Great Lord’s Pride

by Larry N. Morris

A great lord dared to scorned his king, he did not feel meek

He saw himself an equal, not one considered weak

“Who are you,” the great lord said, “that I should pay your due?

I’ll give no tax, bend no knee, to please the likes of you.

My walls are just as high and my armies just as great.

Make no demands of homage and darken not my gate.”

No king permits such boldness, a realm is bound like steel;

Many swords the king led forth to bring this lord to heel.

The great lord called his banners and met them in the field,

But kings defied are adamant, his course was clearly sealed.

The battle raged for hours, but king’s time was at hand.

The great lord finally wavered then fled the bloodied land.

The king pursued and sealed the rebel tightly in his walls.

 A siege was laid and banners flapped to ringing trumpet calls.

Spears and arrows filled the air and made the sky grow dim,

Then engines lumbered to the fore, lord’s chances became grim.

In desperation to survive, wizards joined the fray

But even magic could not halt momentum on that day.

Gates were smashed, the wall was breached, king’s army flooded in.

And in the end great lord lay slain; the price for prideful sin.

Then the king gave orders, the walls must now come down.

No defiant castle would stand upon his ground.

Men shuddered at the storm that oddly brewed that day,

Stranger still—what came to pass; it never went away.

The king had sent a message, he would not be defied

He would not allow such boldness nor suffer such great pride.

No other lords have dared rebel, message being clear

Lesson of a great lord’s pride for all who chance come near:

Stones of great lord’s castle lie scattered o’er the ground

And winds and rain blow ‘cross the ruins to leave an eerie sound.

Some say, “‘Tis an omen, this overcast year ‘round.

The curse of some great lord whose pride surely brought him down.

Mayhap the work of wizards or demons in the dark.”

Blood runs cold and none are bold to risk it as a lark;

And all who hear dare not come near this chill, dank surround

‘Cause winds and rain blow ‘round the stones, leaving eerie sound.