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The Raven and the Hero

Long, long ago, when the world was less old,
There was a legendary tale, that often would be told.
It spoke of two, meeting by a chance,
How a curse was lifted, and how they did dance.

It starts one morn, by a murky covered bog,
The kind with bugs and a moonwort frog.
A hero approached, riding upon his horse,
Thirsty he was, his throat felt quite coarse.

He looked at the cloudily water, and felt his thirst go,
When he heard a voice calling, from where, he did not know.
“Mighty hero,” the mysterious voice did say
“You must help me, please don’t turn me away!”

“Who speaks to me from nowhere,” the hero did call,
“Present yourself, or I shan’t help you at all.”
“I dare not,” came a harsh rasping voice,
“I do not wish to frighten you, I have no choice.”

“I will not speak to someone I cannot see,
So I will be going, a good day to thee!”
As the hero left the bog, turning about,
He was halted by a wavering shout.

“Alright, if I must, I will come into view,
But please don’t be afraid, I will not harm you.”
So saying, and with a whoosh of wings,
A raven landed on his arm, of all such things.

The hero was most defiantly startled, to be sure,
But there was little strangeness he could not endure.
“Here I be,” the raven did state,
“And I have a request, please don’t abate.”

“Never have I seen such a bird of yore,
Nor one who can speak ever before.”
“Tell me, wise bird, what do you need?”
“A curse to be lifted and me to be freed.”

“I am not truly a raven; this is but a guise,
I have to endure, until my tragic demise.”
“I am a woman, cursed by a beast,
A terrible monster, who resides in the East.”

“You must slay this fiend; you are the only one,
If I am ever to be human again, and gaze upon the sun.”
The hero though on this, and thought some more.
He didn’t know what to believe, he just wasn’t sure.

“A vexing tale, but if what you say is true,
Then, help you I must, this I will get you through.”
“I kill this monster, and aid you as best I can,
Very well, let us go,” and off he ran.

Climbing aboard his horse, away he flew,
Raven on his shoulder, to do what he had to do.
It didn’t take long, before he spied a great cave,
Inside of which was a terrible Glave.

A Glave is a huge monster, so tall and wide,
The mere sight of one, makes normal men hide.
But this hero was no normal fellow,
He would fight this Glave, and charged with a bellow.

And indeed, out stepped a Glave, so big,
Trenches in the ground, its claws did dig.
The raven, fearing the creature’s wrath,
Took flight from the giant monsters path.

Thus it was on; a great and terrible fight,
The side of evil, versus the side of light.
The hero went in, his sword drawn and horse did rear,
But the Glave was not one to be intimidated from fear.

The Glave struck fast, knocking the hero from mount,
But the hero was not one to defeated by any account.
Monster and man, circled round and round,
Their awesome clash did shake the ground.

Lunged the Glave did, claws reaching out,
Just as the hero took a leap, sword ready, with a shout.
With a mighty thrust, it sank into the skull,
With a cry and a groan, the Glave did fall.

The hero pulled his sword free, and then saw a flash,
A blazing light from nearby, along with an earsplitting crash.
He lifted his sword, unsure of this new ruse,
When his jaw came unhinged, and his legs he couldn’t use.

And there she stood, a beautiful woman, garbed in dress,
The hero was without words, he was speechless.
“Thank you brave knight,” the woman said,
“The curse is free, and the foul monster is dead.”

“By the gods,” the hero marveled, staring in wonder,
“I know of you m’lady,” he did cry and thunder.
“You be Princess Sophia, daughter of King Lee,”
“Your pardon I do beg,” as he fell to one knee.

She walked to him, and bid him regain his feet,
“There is no need for that, how else will we meet?”
As he stood, she curtsied and gave him a small smile,
“You have saved me…at least for a while.”

“This isn’t the first time I’ve been in such snag,
Once I’ve been kidnapped by this hideous old hag.”
“But enough of such stories, for me you have save,
Tell me; what I can give you, for one so brave?”

“Nothing is required, my princess,” the hero told,
“Just to look on you, is more reward than I could hold.”
“You are so fair; I have not the proper words,
“Just gazing upon your beauty turns my will to curds.”

“Allow me, if you would, to escort you, back to your land,
And lead you away from this desolate pit of rock and sand.”
So, placing the princess on his steed, he led her out,
And he walked the whole way, fortunate that he was so stout.

There at last, the castle rising from the rolling hills,
The kingdom of King Lee, full of adventure and thrills.
To the front of the great keep, the hero marched with lady,
Pausing under some trees, which were nice and shady.

He bowed deep once more, and in the light of the moon,
“Forgive me m’lady, but I must ask for your boon.”
“There is only one thing I would wish for, on this wide whole earth,
A single dance under the stars with you, enough for any serf.”

Princess Sophia gave the hero a smile, and with a nod,
Off the two of them danced gently, on the fresh green sod.
SO it was, the stalwart hero, became the princess’s champion and love,
Inseparable they became, like two star struck birds, that of a dove.