for MM

Atlanta and Hippomenes - the race rerun

Up sprang the sun, setting treetops on fire
The birds in song, marvellous choir
The moon bid adieu and plunged to sleep
Her brother, with fiery arms began the world to sweep

But what host stood on the great plain
Men, women and child in endless train
Theirs was to travel long leagues
To feel on their faces heaven's breeze

Mighty trumpets blow
Flags wild flow
March, march fro

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Tresses and manes flew behind
As eyes keen as flames unwind
Roared the company, on mercury's boots
To resounding music of harps and flutes

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Of all gallants, tall and bold
To whose glory drumbeats rolled,
Two stood out, from the fold
A monk in grey and a woman in gold

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Tigress first, burning bright
Eyes cold, daughter of might
Slender yet wrought of steel
Sight bringing sternest to heel

The braves despaired at her face
Blinding blow from cupid's mace
Sculpture of gods, form perfect
That might, mightiest mind buffet

But she cared not, artemis' maid
Balance and step, perfection weighed
Helm and mail, awful light
Arching shadows in the night

One hand wielded athene's shield
That once gorgon fate sealed
Adamant slab, fire given
Not to be by claw or steel riven

Bitter blade, fell forge grown
Slicing like air, tree and stone
Despatching to doom demon and beast
Horror fork of mars' feast

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But who was he, among great lords
Who with the best, did steady plod
Clad in grey, grey and smile
Unarmed, and lacking in guile

Tall and lithe, overgrown child
Fun and frolic, on face tiled
Skin of bark, hair night dark
Jester of mark, spirits of lark

Justborn eyes - centuries old
Deeper than any tale ever told
Kin he was of sun and moon
Stars on his brow, of light hewn

So unlike other men grim
He flowed with laughter o'er the brim
Children, on his shoulder did he bear
He taught them song, love and care

All life he loved, man or beast
And slew not, for fear or feast
Befriended he the wildest hound
With petting hand and music unbound

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Time flew, lines thinned
Slow but sure does weariness win
Sand rolled in heros' shoes
Sleep closed on tired sinews

Settled the host in lands fertile
For rest and domestic life awhile
Stale the chase they forsook
Empires made, grew and shook

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At last none stood but monk and maid
Elf bard and amazon pride
One sealed in steel and will
The other with just joy afill

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But now the race at its last leg
For the lands that eyes sore beg
Were but in sight, but a vale away
But what dread vale, what dread say

Alak! the gate to promised land
Held firm by the darkest hand
rose the morgul lord from his seat
All land trembled with rage and heat

Captains cry, heralds hark
At his motif - dark question mark
Lights fail, boldest reel
At his hammer's mocking peal
One against two, death silence fell
Who would it be, to knock the doors of hell

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Quivered the rose, and rose in wrath
Driving the blade into dark heart
Blue the tip, glittering cold
But skin was tough, tough of old

Cracked the tongue into million shard
Fell in malice - hammer hard
Shattered the shield like cowrie shell
And turned to holder, doom's bell

Maid of might, trembled in fright
Lips fell white, nameless blight
Air of death, rattled from foe
Stern queen turned frozen doe

Naked she trembled by the fell king
Ah! what change did the gore bring
Piteous she cried, cried for aid
Strange words, first time said
Begging eyes called him fore
Then she swooned, saw no more

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Sudden was slashed, fabric of dark
By beam of light - thin and stark
Flung the monk his grey cloak
Lord of lightning, stature of oak
Joy on lip, wisdom on brow
Power in arm to fell any foe

But dark teeth knives ground in rage
For they sensed might beyond guage

With shock of thunder the two met
White fire and black mallet
Tempest of flame, wild death game
Who shall who in the end tame

Lo! what be this, time's wonder
Hammer of hate smashed asunder
Vanquished lay the morgul chief
At white's feet, scattered grief

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Scooped the monk, damsel by waist
Bore her away from air of foul taste
Limped back the king, to resume broken watch
As cerberus had over hades after heracles' dodge

He laid her on a bed of grass
And removed the helm of brass
Bathed her in dewdrops pure
And all ill in her did he cure

Cast the maid her golden mail
Disdain in her turned tail
Bound hair, she tossed free
And sat in love, on his knee

Damsel of love, banished her pride
Two together, man and bride
Her he covered, with flowers fair
And him she, with lips bare

Low he whistled, a tune of wild
Sprang a steed - pegasus child
Saddleless mounted, he with his prize
And swiftly rode to waiting paradise!

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