Poem: Bercilak de Hautdesert a/k/a The Green Knight

By Jack Brummet

You walk the hall of broken mirrors

Upon the walls of which are hung
The skulls of those who walked before you.

Grey light pools
On the floor in the distance.
A green knight walks toward you,

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.
The Green Knight asks you to roshambo.
"You first," he says.

You take the axe and swing. The helmet flies off
And smashes against a stone wall.
The head tumbles down the hallway.

The Green Knight picks up the head
And tells you to meet him

At the Green Chapel New Year's morning

Where he will deal his exchange blow.
The Green Knight's head chuckles
As he slips away.
                ---o0o---