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Ancient Duty Done

Aye, tis far it is, the length o’ history in this ancient verdant land
in northern hills where magic still flows, through glens so silent sweet
and I sit quite I do, and swear I hear the patter of the Wee Folks feet
upon the wind, along with the rush of great wings, and some warring band

I were Druid to a noble King, in times a’ old a’ stone now gone
and I remember the span a’ time and people as they passed along
for I hold the memories of me race, me task, embedded in a song
and I weep in silence, under skies of rose and pearl at break o’ dawn

The tall fair red-haired lass with green eyes that sparkled bright
and her song o’ sweetness that left me shaken with new love
the way she burned in need, yet were tender as a sweet soft dove
and I ached to say such words that would bind her to me so right

But a King called and I went to war, a counselor in his bloody fight
across the hills we faired to go, an enemy to blood in day’s first light
and red the dawn and the field as well, for wasted chances, wasted rights
and so we parted as lovers often do, in the ebon flow of a hurried night

Ancient now I am, and feeling the dusty hand a’ Time at last
I wait to write the final chapter to the long story as ordained you see
for only then may I rest at last, beneath the mound beside the sounding sea
and perhaps you will learn of those lived until they too went past

Walk the green land in silence, and it sings to you, it does I swear
listen and you’ll learn o’ knights and fights, and great dragons bold of fate
and the struggles of a simple folk caught between famine and noble hate
a sad tale to be sure, but one you too can learn if you but chance to care