Poem: The Green Knight

1
You walk the hall of broken mirrors
Upon the walls of which are hung
The skulls of those who walked before you.

2
Filtered grey light pools
On the floor in the distance.
The moans and whimpers of the maimed and wounded

Reverberate against the cold walls.
You come to a burnished oak door.
The door will not open,

And you walk on down the hall.
A green knight walks toward you,
With a battle-axe in one hand

And a branch of holly in the other.
Bercilak de Hautdesert asks if you want to play a game.
He strops the axe on his green leather pants.

3
The Green Knight asks you to roshambo.
"You first," he says. "Take the first swing
And I will be back in a year and a day

To take my turn."
You take the axe and swing. The helmet flies off
And smashes against the stone wall

And his head rolls down the hallway.
The stranger does not die.
The Green Knight picks up his severed head

And the head tells you
To meet him at the Green Chapel
One hear hence on New Year's morning,

So that he may deal his exchange blow.
The Green Knight's head chuckles
As he walks briskly away.
---o0o---