BARDIC DREAMS

BARDIC DREAMS, by Deborah Guzzi

 

Bold warriors and women, shield mates, sat

wrapped in the darkness, sheltered between knees

warmed by their lovers and heat of kettle fire.

 

A bard regaled with tales and love song

Bold warriors and women, shield mates, sat

toasting their fallen friends with ale and tears.

 

Mist rose from the surface of the enchanted lake.

Wrapped in the darkness, sheltered between knees

a sprinkle of fireflies crowned the knight’s heads.

 

Some stood like shields behind their ladies back

warmed by their lovers and heat of kettle fire.

Heads lolled; golden strands were drawn through fingers.

 

Seated knights cradled ladies between armored thighs.

A bard regaled with tales and love song

washing the weary of bloodlust and death cries.

 

Mere hours before, they had held swords not cups

toasting their fallen friends with ale and tears.

Now, cameo visages flushed in firelight

 

revealed ice-blue eyes of Viking descent.

Mist rose from the surface of the enchanted lake

as each weary warrior visited, in tale,

 

the halls of Beowulf, and Artur’s Camelot.

The daytime was bent on war, but the night,

sprinkled with fireflies, was meant for lovers.

 

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Deborah Guzzi writes full-time. Her book The Hurricane is available at Prolific Press. Her verses appear in the UK, Canada, Spain, France, Australia, China, Singapore, New Zealand, Greece, and India. In the USA her work has been published in Pioneertown, Sounding, Bacopa, Shooter, Aurorean, Tishman Review & Page & Spine.