F O U R T E E N

The party, sharp,
Were swift to start
Consoling those in need,

Whilst those without
Were in no doubt
Of their life’s certainties.

And father, weak,
Assayed to speak,
But weariness prevailed,

So one brave hulk
Upraised his bulk,
And tried to tell their tale.

They’d foraged far,
Into the dark,
Down homeward avenues,

With father’s eyes
Upon a prize
He wasn’t going to loose.

When on the route
Before them, grouped,
A band of men tenfold,

Who’d lost their way
The previous day
Whilst seeking their own gold.

And once announced
Began to pounce,
And sack their caravans,

Dispensing swipes
To giant types,
Whilst binding up the man.

And cheering as
They sneered wrath
Spoke of being led astray,

By ventures sworn,
From giant forms,
Of wonderment this way.

Then breathing hard,
The prostrate shard
Of storyteller died,

Before the group
Had time to stoop,
And tend his tortured hide.

Our boy looked beat,
As if defeat
Had struck below the belt,

And sage and scout,
And soldier’s clout,
Meant little where they knelt.

But as they stood,
From out the wood,
An able giant swooped,

And swift as soap
Slipped out a rope,
And snared them in its loop.

And peels of grief,
As in relief,
Shed from his mighty throat,

Until the balm
Of coppice calm
Released its antidote.

“I have thee now,
Oh knavish crowd”
The giant did accent,

“And by debate,
And justice great,
You’ll face your punishment

“For murdering
Of earthen things
Undresses nature most,

And my kindred
Have long altered
Its least desired clothes.”

“But listen here,”
Replied the seer,
“We’re not the guilty ones,

We happened by
Long after crimes
Against your kind were done.

Indeed that girth,
On yonder berth,
Is this poor youngster’s sire,

So stall thy rage
And slip this cage
Your haste has ill attired”.

The giant turned,
Somewhat astern,
Towards the figure draped,

And prodding with
A finger tip
Could not arouse its shape.

“For sooth, it seems,
This adult’s dreams
Are more than day’s relief,

So let thee prove
Thy words unto
My wife and tribal chief.”