a classic twisted and rewritten

[miragination]

two roads diverged in a wood, and i -

i misread most signs and followed the lies,
and that has brewed some bitterness.

i chose neither road and walked along blind,
and have seen little difference.

i wished to walk both but dared not try,
and so stumble solo, wrong side of the fence.

i took the road less traveled by

Comments

Child Roland To The Dark Tower Came

[mortis999]

I
My first thought was, he lied in every word,
That hoary cripple, with malicious eye
Askance to watch the workings of his lie
On we, as it was, and mouth scarce able to afford
Suppression of the glee, that pursed and scored
Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby.

II
What else should he be set for, with his staff?
What, save to waylay with his lies, ensnare yon
innocent traveller who might find him posted there,
And ask the road? I guessed what skull-like laugh
Would break, what crutch wished to write my epitaph
While wasting time in the dusty thoroughfare.

III
If at his counsel she should turn aside
Into that ominous tract which, all agree,
Hides the Dark Tower. Yet acquiescingly
she did turn as he pointed, neither pride
nor hope rekindling at the end descried,
nor gladness or relief that some end might be.

IV
For, what with our whole world-wide wandering,
What with our search drawn out through years, Our hope
Dwindled into a ghost not fit to cope
With that obstreperous joy success would bring,
I hardly tried now to rebuke the spring
After all this, with the Tower in our sight,
Our hearts made, finding failure in its scope.

V
As when a sick man very near to death
Seems dead indeed, and feels begin and end
The tears and takes the farewell of each friend,
And hears one bit the other go, draw breath
Freelier outside, ('since all is o'er,' he saith
And the blow fallen no grieving can amend;')
Though, it is an illusion, and death has no come
Indeed, our hearts and soul remain intact

VI
When some discuss if near the other graves
be room enough for this, and when a day
Suits best for carrying the corpse away,
With care about the banners, scarves and staves
And still the man hears all, and only craves
He may not shame such tender love and stay.

VII
Thus, We had so long suffered in this quest,
Heard failure prophesied so oft, been writ
So many times among 'The Band', and club, to wit,
We knights who to the Dark Tower's search addressed
Our steps - that just to fail as they, seemed best,
And Dame felt that all the doubt was now -
should she be fit?

VIII
So, quiet as despair she turned to him,
That hateful cripple, out of his highway
Into the path he pointed, and I sensed it,
though bound was I, and unable to speak.
All the day had been a dreary one for me,
at best, and dim was settling to its close,
yet shot one grim Red leer to see the plain
catch its estray.

IX
For mark! No sooner was I fairly found, and unbound;
Pledged to the plain, after a pace were the two,
Then, pausing, both to throw backwards a last view
O'er the safe road, 'twas gone; grey plain all round;
Nothing but plain to the horizon's bound.
I might go on, naught else remained to do.

Re: Child Roland To The Dark Tower Came

[miragination]

why only the first nine stanzas?

Re: Child Roland To The Dark Tower Came

[mortis999]

Nine is my number. I felt that it was fitting to post 9.

Along with that, as far as our quest goes, the tenth is yet to be written. ;)