Anwen and her Knight

Upon the castle battlements
The Parry flag still flew –
A lion crest in serpents
Set. But ousted by a coup.

By stealth of night and fierce-fought fight
The Saxons had seized Talfryn –
Put Welsh to flight and
Cruelly killed the royal kin.

Within the mighty fireplace
The dancing flames did roar
And up the massive chimneyface
The rushing smoke did soar.

Two mastiff hounds did stretch and yawn
Their mistress at their side,
She trembling for the coming dawn –
Her marriage as war bride.

Her name was Anwen Parry
A girl of seventeen,
Held at Saxon mercy,
The slayer of King and Queen.

As soon as she was safely wed
He’d take her as his own,
Coarsely defile the royal bed
And claim the Parry throne.

Obscured in Cambrian fog
That lay upon the vale,
A Celtic knight with running dog
Passed near this villain’s jail.

A wizened witch to him did speak
With tones most villainous
And divulged, by strangled shriek,
This plan of wickedness.

The gallant knight in outraged tone
Declared he’d act this day,
Galloping from the wheezing crone
He spurred his mount away.

Surely nothing could this crime prevent
Or stop the winding clock;
Courage and chivalrous intent
Could not this scoundrel block.

On fiery steed the noble peer,
With faithful hound beside,
Galloped to the castle rear
And planned his way inside.

From hidden grove he surveyed the scene
And the decision he did make –
Up and through the ivy green
Was the route he’d take.

With knotted cord around his neck
His trusty sword he tied –
Starting forth on his upward trek
All fears were set aside.

He climbed within the ivy safe
A hundred feet or more,
His only thought to reach the waif
That he was searching for.

He paused beside a window wide
And heard a crying sound;
Within he spied the weeping bride
Beside her massive hound.

A girl of matchless beauty;
A smile to light moonbeams –
He knew that this was truly
The maiden of his dreams.

She in turn was smitten
By his face so kind.
Both knew their book was written
Their amorous fates entwined.

At the window wide she took his wrist,
Their smiling eyes embraced.
Lovers now, they gently kissed
As he took her by the waist.

Wrapped around with his stout cord
He helped her to the ledge,
Then with cut of mighty sword
He lowered her with this pledge:

“I give my heart to thee to hold
To cherish and adore;
Rich treasures of pure gold
I endow to thee, and more”

“I am a prince of Cymree
That old and fabled land.
Plight your troth to me –
Say thee will take my hand!”

This knight in strong chain mail
Stirred her heart with love;
She would make him her holy grail –
The one she had dreamt of.

She blushed and smiled her assent
She would her hand bestow;
Arms entwined they made their descent
To the firmament below.

O’er the grassy sward they ran
Anxious to make speed
As fast as young lovers can
To his waiting steed.

They sat astride his chestnut mare
And galloped though the dawn,
Undying love they did declare
As happy fates were drawn.

Today they rule the land of Wales
The Parry lands regained,
Saxons driven from the vales –
The English left blood-stained.

The story of the shining knight
Who triumphed in that fray,
Who fought and won the fight,
We’ll hear another day.

This present tale tells us to be strong;
To go where virtue leads:
Fight for right not wrong –
And live by worthy deeds.