The joust is done,

The Black Knight won,

By trickery or foul,

Fair maidens hand,

Goes to this man,

She must wed the Black Knight now,

As he claims his prize,

She averts her eyes,

To where her true love lay,

Her sacred vow,

Somewhere, some how,

She will make the Black Knight pay,

He takes her arm,

Neither grace nor charm,

He’s eager now to wed,

A cowards’ deed,

Made him succeed,

Fair maiden for to bed,

Their nuptial bed,

After they’re wed,

Is as cold as virgin snow,

In vast contrast,

To hate that lasts,

And burns like glowing coal,

Her mind is on,

Her love that’s gone,

She misses him so much,

Her husband moans,

His rough hands roam,

She flinches at his touch,

She lies so still,

He has his will,

She’s powerless to defend,

Her emotions dead,

But in her head,

She’s plotting her revenge,

By break of morn,

Her husband gone,

She seeks the alchemist,

His price she’ll pay,

On any day,

On vengeance she insists,

His price is high,

For she must lie,

His whore for seven days,

Her hate so strong,

She sees no wrong,

And eagerly she pays,

As the eighth day dawns,

A spell is spawned,

Just as the wizard said,

Her lovers’ soul,

Set free to roam,

Inside the Black Knights head,

He sees his face,

The chain, the mace,

His sanity departs,

This fearsome Knight,

Stays in the light,

Afraid now or the dark,

Fair maiden smiles,

For all the while,

She knows what he can see,

Her lover Knight,

In armour bright,

Upon a field of green,

He sees the mud,

Now stained with blood,

Relives his cowards blow,

And every night,

Relives the fight,

He fought not long ago,

He begs for her,

To lift the curse,

Thou foul reluctant wife,

She laughs at him,

With humour grim,

Why dost thou not take your life?

He begs and pleads,

On bended knees,

That he can make amends

But maiden fair,

No longer cares,

So sweet is her revenge.

By S.E.Ralph

13-12-2001