At the Threshold Moment (A Tale of a Lone Knight)
At the Threshold Moment (A Tale of One Lone Knight) …
Hello….Fellow Readers of Words put into Poetic renderings. Looking around and back through time while using Poetry words…I find a perplexing array of colossal phrases await my impeccable locution. There are so many ways to explore Poetry and where it can take the Reader…and/or even the Author. Entertainment is where you find it…”Manly” Poetry is prepared to send out Poetry on a variety of topics. Set yourself back a few years for this one. Imagine yourself in another time period for this Poem.
At the Threshold Moment (A Tale of One Lone Knight)
At the Threshold Moment…I take sword in hand,
And at the Threshold Moment…I am ready to make a stand.
An Invading Army has scaled our Castle Wall,
I retrieve my long blade from its scabbard; I shall defend this hall.
To protect fair lady, I will fight until I die,
But dying shall not help her…I must defeat all…I must try.
She sits alone in her tower bedroom, her hope alone rests in me,
A barricaded door and my sword must keep away this enemy.
They have decreed since Winter’s End, to come and take our Land, and even Her,
I have made a solemn pledge to the King…that She will never be taken prisoner.
They are coming…For I can hear their gnarling,
Like a pack of wolves, they’re coming…But, I am also snarling.
For at the Threshold Moment, they have played into my hand,
With armor, sword, and traps at ready…I’m well prepared to make this stand.
The first squadron to take the tower soon approaches, It has all come down to this,
Their first arrow flies above me; They have started their siege off…with a miss.
I back up and start to run, careful of my footing while en route,
At the top of the staircase, I light the grease fire, then listen to them shout.
With crossbows ready, I unleash arrow bolts on them…and two assailants fall,
I did each one a favor, they were struck before the fire touched them at all.
Now, at fire’s end, I start my battle down, sword thrusting into smoky air,
Striking men in fiery pain advancing…of their injuries…they have no care.
When they have renewed in spirit, I’ll be finished, of this I am aware,
Still, I have one final weapon, under my lips I say a prayer.
O’ Lord, help one man against a thousand…that is all I ask,
Please give me strength I am pleading…sufficient for the task.
With swords swinging…I clash on and on against these mighty men,
Smoke filled eyes, and some skin burning, I will hold on to the end.
Arrows hit all around me, some bounce away, and some go in,
I still have one more trap left, though…I must gain atop the stairs, once again.
With my sword, the only thing between us, I must hasten my retreat,
In agony, I make my way back, must still stay on both my feet.
A lance pierces through my armor, in more pain now than I’ve ever been,
(*) ‘Tis nothing but a mortal flesh wound…It’s not over till I say when!
At the newest advancing squadrons…I proceed to yell,
They are close behind my footsteps…I am finished…they can tell.
To top of tower hall…To pull the lever…the last defense we had to install,
A rolling boulder…squashing yon attackers like grapes…against the wall.
For days we labored…rolling this huge stone towards up tower high,
Worth every moment…to see the astonished look in my foe’s eye!
With second wind I have become renewed,
Strong of sword…and combat shrewd.
Attack I… those who have managed,
To make it thus far and receive no internal damage.
With wildness of a vengeful sort,
My sword will answer…My blade shall give report.
For this day have you stormed the wrong castle; And I…will help to make it known,
You cost your land a legion…the day you set to capture our King’s throne.
I shall slash, cut, and maim you for attempting this attack,
Now, reach the bottom of tower stairway; Singlehandedly…have I pushed back.
Then, grab thy enemy’s longbow…that was lying at foot of tower wall,
To let fly a quiver of arrows at thy new opposers, While‘st their second line begins to fall.
And look at yonder kinsman, crushing back their last advance…and winning…
I see the victory is now at our gate…Yet…in my weakness my eyes are dimming.
But, still shout I…with sword that’s raised high…one last great and valiant cheer…!
Our enemy turned to fall back…leaving all their weapons…as each one began to hear.
Defenders of our kingdom…run them down valley’s slope…out past our furthest hill.
Look what man can overcometh…If in his own heart…he thus chooses his own will.
And stare I… At Noble Castle Tower…which has now witnessed and withstood,
A mighty onslaught, and then to watch our enemy flee the kingdom’s valley for good!
At the Threshold Moment…with you O’ Lord…and Kinsman by my side,
Was I able to save fair maiden; Thus, with huge piercing…and many arrow wounds…I died!
(*) Although…this Poem was written with all the seriousness that is due the Lone Brave Knight. However, just for the fun of it: I couldn’t resist adding a small part of one of the lines above. Sentence modified from this scene from Monty Python’s “Holy Grail”: “‘Tis only a mortal flesh wound.”
(Film Clip from: Monty Python’s “Holy Grail”; Movie Released in: 1975)
Originally Published by ManlyPoetryMan © 2009
~~~
Steve Walters -joined TCE in the Fall of 2021. Keep an eye on his author page for many great works to come.
https://www.creativeexiles.com/author/stevew/
You can also find works by Steve Walters (who uses the pen name of ManlyPoetryMan) on: ManlyPoetryMan on HubPages.
https://hubpages.com/@manlypoetryman
And on Manly Poetry Man’s website: Home | Manly Poetry Man
Enough of that intro. It is really great to be writing here on: "The Creative Exiles". I am lining up some of my best writings for this website. Going to "Bring-it" with a variety of "Poetic-able" Topics. So just kick back and enjoy some of the Poetry I send out to you. It’s all for “Entertainment” purposes only…so all you will have to do is read and enjoy my writings.
And, I really hope you do!
Now, it is time for me to go and write in a "Poet-icized" manner like those long ago “Men of Old” Poets would’ve once long ago done it. They have primarily inspired me to write Poems in a manner that is “Manly” like how they use to write Poetry.
Please stay tuned for more of my Poetry works.
Best and Humble Regards, Steve Walters
(Or the Artist still known as: Manlypoetryman)
- Unwritten Words in the Sky - April 11, 2025
- A Postcard for the Moment - February 28, 2025
- A Whisper…From Above - February 28, 2025
I loved your poetic tale of the valiant knight too bad he could not ride off into the sunset with the fair maiden,
Thank you, Rasma. Really glad you enjoyed this Poetic Tale of this Valiant Knight. Yes…after all the Knight went through he deserved to ride off into the Sunset afterwards with fair maiden. Ha!
Great poem of heroic deeds. Shame he copped it in the end! I like how you used mediaeval-style language to portray this scene.
Have also just read your poem on ‘Reminiscing’ on HP – it’s great. The power of music, eh? I know exactly what you mean – just a refrain bump-starts the brain and we are transported to a previous time – wonderful!
Great that you have the love of your life still by your side too. I also have one of those!
Ann
Thank you for your comment on the Heroic deeds of the Lone Knight…It was so much fun to write and to use words that I imagined would have used in medieval times. Poor ol’ Iron-clad dude though…copped it in the end after all his great deeds. Appreciate you reading this one…and “Reminiscing with No Regrets” Poem. Another fun poem to write that is full of momentary memories and ’70’s music. Thanks for stopping by and reading them both and for commenting. Good morrow to you!
This is such a delightful medieval adventure tale told poetically, Steve. The Black Knight scene from Monty Python’s ‘Holy Grail’ is a true classic. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, John. Glad you enjoyed this Poem about a brave medieval Lone Knight. Just had to add the scene from Monty Python’s “Holy Grail” for a chuckle or two. You are right…it is a true classic. Appreciate you reading this one and commenting on it.
Ah at thus the ultimate sacrifice for king amd country. The able knight thwarts the enemy advances and at the cost of his own life protects the land. Excellent tale Steve. Nice work~Paul
Yes it ’twas…truly…the ultimate sacrifice for King and Country. (Though Fiction…I wonder if something similar could have played out long ago??) This One Brave Knight protects the Land, The King’s Throne, and Fair Maiden…with every slash of his sword…at great peril to himself. Thank you for reading this one and for getting into the spirit of it, as well. And Thank you, Good Sir, for commenting thusly upon it.
Very exciting and enjoyable read! I felt like I was present in the action. I love these types of stories and your poetic rendering was spot on. Jamie
Glad it made you feel like you were in all the action…with sword slashing! In keeping with the theme of this one: Thank you for you letting your comment “beknownst” to myself…and for the read upon this modest rendering.