what makes a hero?

I have never been much
impressed by dragon-slaying knights
or by men who aspire
to be such.

For what does that require,
really, but a long sword or spear
and a marked deficiency
of adequately assessing risk?

Show me instead
the one who tirelessly woos
the savage beast,
approaches
and befriends it,
not so much taming the creature,
which is by nature untamable,
but building instead a mutual trust
and affection, gaining an ally
of immeasurable power
and strength.

This, my friend, is a feat
worthy of legend,
and you may mark my words,
if ever accomplished and immortalized
in story and song, we will sing
of no man,

but woman.

 

ever after

one day
   my prince did come
only he was bleeding still
   and limping badly
      from the terrors
      of his journey

even now his pain
   his demons
never cease in the torment
   of his battered body
   of his broken mind

there are moments white
   and rare
when he quiets
   to the whisper of my song
when I might brave
   a touch
when his eyes may rise
   to meet mine for one brief
      and brilliant flash

but most of the time
   he sits apart
      trembling in his grief
swearing and shouting
   for his drink