Edward Gorey was a gothic writer who, in 1963, published The Gashlycrumb Tinies, a book detailing the gruesome deaths of 26 children - one for each letter of the alphabet. (You can read it online.)
I had a lot of fun doing "A Supernatural Amphigory", so of course it was only logical to do a Merlin one, too! :)
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A Merlin Amphigory
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Hark to the tale of this bloodthirsty bard,
A story of sorrow, of deaths come by hard;
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Death by monster and magic and melee and more,
By falling and fire and feuding galore.
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So listen and learn; 'chance your own life depends,
On knowing how these met their gruesome ends...
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A is for Aredian, who fell to his doom,
Also for Aulfric, blown up with a boom.
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B is for Balinor, run through with a sword,
B, too, for Bedivere (knight Questing Beast pawed).
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C is for Catrina, a troll with ambition,
Killed by a prince when she failed in her mission.
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C also for Cedric, possessed by a ghost,
And C for Cenred, slain by his host.
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D stands for Devlin, to his own snakes was fed,
E is for Edwin, an axe in his head.
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F is for Freya, who moonlight did show,
Was a cat (of a sort), and thus was brought low.
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F also for Fisher King, who on his throne,
Tried on some jewellery, and was killed by a stone.
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G is Grunhilda, black spots on her face,
At the end of a staff, was blown into space.
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H is for Hengist, eaten by moles,
H also for Helen, stabbed full of holes.
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I is for Innocent Citizen Three,
Beheaded for magic, by royal decree.
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J is for Jonas, by knife he did fall,
J also for Jarl, knocked into a wall.
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K is for Kanen, impaled front to back,
L is for Lancelot, who walked through a crack.
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M is for Mary, by candles was mashed,
Also Morgause, who by magic was bashed.
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N is for Nimueh, whom lightning did fry,
Nollar, here too, who from magic did die.
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O for Owain, brought low by a mummy,
Along with P: Pellinore, a sword in his tummy.
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Q is for Questing Beast (not human, but still),
Speared through with magic by Merlin, with skill.
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R is for Radnor, whom most won't recall,
Just another poor knight who ill fate did befall.
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S is for Sigan, soul sucked out his throat,
Sophia as well, to pieces was smote.
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T is for Tauren, got out by a grave,
Tristain too tumbled, out with a shockwave.
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T also for Tom; jailbreak gone bad;
The last T for Tindr, by Gilli was had.
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U is for Uther, mad and then dead,
Was stabbed and drank potions that poisoned instead.
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V is for Valiant, died by snake and by shield.
W for Will; to a crossbow did yield.
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Y is Ygraine, Uther's oft' mentioned wife,
Gave birth to a son; gave up also her life.
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(You'll note X and Z are both gone from this set,
There are no unfortunates with these names… yet.)
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There. The list's done. I've finished the story
Of death and demise, gruesome and gory.
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So keep your rabbits' feet close, friends, and lock up your doors -
For the next life that Camelot claims could be yours...
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