literature

Death and the Lady

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Literature Text

Death and the Lady rode through the hills,
Like a bowshot in the dimming light,
One steed as white as the stars,
The other as black as the night.
Into the valley of fear they rode,
With the sunset spread like wings,
And the sun all red and dripping blood,
The party’s footfall rings
Too and fro, from peak to fall,
Like the death toll of a God,
For the riders were fearless, mounts unmatched,
And their hooves with light were shod.
Death and the Lady descended like Night,
And wrapped it round their shoulder,
Riding through the enemy camp
And the wind they brought was colder
Than any the valley had seen before
Since men raised glass and steel,
And their cries just as ancient still,
Which the enemy woke to feel.
Death fell on their warriors,
A slash of black across the court
Lamplight whirlwind, blades and blood
And every wick blew short.
The Lady walked in silence still,
To the Black Lord’s dreadful keep,
With a sword as bright as moonlight, she crept,
And found the king asleep.
She woke him with the glint of steel,
And offered him one last chance,
But the devil stood laughing at his side,
And the devil called for his dance.
The Black King’s sword was crooked and sharp,
Between the hanging curtains
With glittering eyes and cord,
The black king drew his curtains closed
And drew his crooked sword.
And strove against her foe,
And as her people’s heartbeat rang,
She struck the mortal blow.
The brawling streets a silent sigh,
Death came to his lady's side,
His trudging steps on silken sheets
Long after lights had dimmed and died.
Death was at his Lady’s side,
To take her hand within his own,
Marching through the reddened valley
On paths where starlight shown.
With easier hearts and bloodied hands,
Knowing they would not roam,
They called their steeds and sheathed their steel,
And went returning home.
And Death and the Lady go riding still,
And still returning home,
For all who fight, and all who love,
Have found Their seeds are sown.

-Attributed to Casil the Bard, First Century After the Change (1-100 AC)
Death and the Lady is a rennaisance (excuse the spelling) motif, and in this case represent the duality of life/death, mania/duty, "good"/"evil", and Johnny/Devi.

The poem plays a part in the story that I'm writing, where the post-apocalyptic world is re-shaping itself both mentally and practically. Making new myths.

Because, you see, every legend started somewhere.

JTHM- jcv
Change Series- sm Stirling
Crossover- Me
© 2009 - 2024 DesdemonaKakalose
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Mordanasad's avatar
just caught onto the "Casil the bard" thing. I giggled aloud.