Kessel Run, Week 9: Write a story in trochaic tetrameter. This can take many forms: write an epic poem in the style of Longfellow's The Song of Hiawatha; vibe with Shakespeare's style of dialogue for his fairies and witches in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth, respectively; or maybe try your hand at a chant in the form of famous Latin liturgies like Dies Ires and Stabat Mater. The choice is up to you. You have no restrictions on your word count.
Apparently I decided on "epic poem", though how well I succeeded in that endeavor, I leave to you to decide. I certainly tortured the rules of grammar and pronunciation a bit with this thing, and at various points I pretty much abandoned my rhyme scheme (which probably won't make sense to anyone but me anyway), and I'm not even sure it qualifies as an epic, but I don't know enough about poetry to know what else to call it. :P
Enjoy!
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"The Knight"
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Ancient eyes view ancient tales, and
I have watched, beginning to end
This is not a happy story
But I pray you listen well, friend
Yours has been a bitter journey
Filled with sorrow, loss, and mis'ry
Through it all, the pain and horror
I have watched you suffer dearly
None can doubt your great resolve, your
Strength, the walls you built so tall, nor
Hope to see you reconciled
Past and present, ever at war
Hear me now, my orphaned child
Long have you been tricked, beguiled
Taught that none could ever reach you
Heart entombed and soul turned wild
Stumbling, broken, pressing forward
Crossing over lines that have blurred
Fighting every piece the dark takes
Sword in hand, forever onward
Black is night before the day breaks
Still you stand while all the world quakes
Never slowing, never weak, you
Carry on although your heart aches
Listen well, for I have seen you
Toil long through day and night to
Reach that ancient shore upon which
Those who fall are carried off to
Though you wish to take your rest, to
Lay your head upon the sand, you
Must press on a little longer
Till the wars and battles have through
Raise your shield, no time to waver
Darkness howls, your foes draw nearer
This is but a taste of ending
Stand! Until the fight is over
Lo, your doom is fast approaching
Swift and roaring, gnashing, bleeding
How can you but rise to face it
Here where monsters stalk you, waiting
Courage, knight! You stand apart, though
Not alone; my strength is in you
Evil balks when faced with light, and
Bows its head, and fades to shadow
Walls shall crumble, forces brought low
All the pain you have endured, no
More than mem'ry, pale as ghosts who
View the world from distant white shores
Walk in peace, lay down your sword now
Mercy, grace, forgiveness, hope; how
Changed the world and strange the clear view
Look, breathe in, embrace the light now
Know that I have ever loved you
Take this gift, this vessel made new
Morning calls, the night is ended
Hark! Arise! Your life awaits you
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