He rode up late yesterday morning
(his armor ablaze in the sun)
He blew a note on his steel-bound horn
(braying of bravery in fights he had won)
Sleepy, I raised my eyelid to look
(that old eyelid, it felt like a ton)
I rolled out my tongue and yawned one long yawn
(embarrassed, my teeth are light dun)
Quivering, his horse stammered nearer
(shaking and quaking and wanting to run)
He was only too happy to come to a stop
(wishing to leave us alone to our fun)
I greeted him with "Good morning"
(he replied by drawing his blade)
I thought there would be some courtesy
(he told me to do as he bade)
And here he was on my doorstep
(that little ill-mannered young knave)
He thought of doing bold burglery
(smug enough to even think himself brave)
His horse thought that he was insane
(as the beast knew how much I would weigh)
His horse knew his outrageous folly
(the wise beast saw how the land lay)
The knight shouted out "Come and fight me!"
(this stripling, foolhardy young man)
He brandished and waved that cold steel
(which was sitting so bold in his hand)
The strain was too much for his poor beast
(this couldn't have been part of his plan)
For his horse reared up high and he threw him
(he was lucky and landed in sand)
Reluctant, I opened both eyelids
(his horse swiftly ran off of my land)
Disgruntled, I looked down upon him
(his face paled and no longer looked tan)
He and I
I and he
just us two
no longer three.
Expectant, I waited for action
(to see what he'd do with that blade)
Slowly I raised on my elbows
(and yet the fool cock'rel still stayed)
But maybe his legs would not move him
(for his eyes turned to heaven, he prayed)
Yet alas, he strode forward a step
(I wondered how much he'd been paid)
"Enough!" said I, "Are you set on a fight?"
(the sight of me rising, that made him blink)
I stretched out my wings and showed him my teeth
(his eyes began blurring; he seemed to shrink)
"Uh, no, that's okay; I'll just go away"
(toward his toes his heart started to sink)
He stretched out his arm and put the sword down
(I plopped myself down and gave him a wink)
"No need to leave; what did you come for?"
(to have company would be nice)
"Well, uh, your treasure if truth be told"
("What is it?" asked I, looking for vice)
He looked at me with shame in his eyes
("Baubles and jewels and gold beyond price")
Now why on earth would I keep those things?"
("But people say you do!" he replies)
Snort. "Come on in for something to drink"
(they probably say I don't drink tea, too)
"Here we are, come inside, watch your feet"
(he teared and turned a purplish hue)
On the floor there's a horde of bubbles
(over which there's been so much ado)
"My treasure: not baubles but bubbles"
('We might even find one for you')
"Bubbles contain many different things"
(I reached and picked one of the best)
"They contain the wisdom that I've learned"
(the many times I've been put to the test)
"They contain memories that I hold dear"
(some even of my time in the nest)
"They contain things I cannot describe"
(there are still things beyond us, I guess)
He looked into the heart of the sphere
(only wonderment was written there)
Deeply drowning in wealth untold
(the tastes of love and life, the need to share)
He stopped breathing so I wacked his back
(once more he was in the present 'where')
He held my arm and tried not to faint
(at the bubble he continued to stare)
"Look son, that's enough for one time"
(one gets high off of bubbles this way)
"Why don't you come back here tomorrow?"
(t'would be good to have him share the day)
"We'll spend more time exploring bubbles"
(he settles into the plan that I lay)
We walk back toward the daylit gate
(tomorrow, together, we'll both have a say)
He and I
I and he
it's us two
on wisdom's knee.
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