
Arabas And the King
The King
And with her frenzy all but done,
I looked around, saw only one.
The single sole there not set free
And lying dead in blood, was me.
Then Arabas laid down to die
And bleeding there began to cry
For children murdered in cold blood
Her future swept away like flood.
But I was young and did not care
Her misplaced grief was her affair.
That brood would threaten all our lives
Thus we destroy all dragon hives.
And though her life was all but gone
She was undone, would die by dawn,
Still with my sword and one great shout
Did slice her beating heart straight out.
Now old and grey I have become
My kingdom soon to kingdom come.
Yet often think I how she cried
When down she laid her head and died.
Perhaps I'm old and not all there
And cause of this am filled with care
Or maybe hearts wear soft with time
And force us all to see our crime.
For wish I so this torment's end
And for my spirit so to mend
And to erase my mortal sin
Would die to put her put her heart back in.
Life moves without me.
Yet I stand anchored by fear
While tears wash my face.
How to be a man?
Putting my foot in the stream
wraps my heart with ice.
Others are so fierce.
They jump and leap like tigers
growling in the night.
Yet here I stand
and envy their growling,
even when they die.
I was a tiger.
I still remember the kill:
The hot blood, the joy.
Once I leaped and growled,
and shrieking, I touched the sky.
Now, I hug the ground.
My mighty jaws snapped,
and my claws ripped through the air.
Now I fear all change.
Who has done this thing?
I know not what villain struck
Nor when the blows fell.
I know only this,
What I was is now no more:
The tiger is gone.