Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Poem: The Ballad Of Easticle And Westicle

Easticle and Westicle were close as close can be.
Quoth Eastticle to Westticle, “Now hearken well to me.
We serve our master’s pleasure, ’tis a high and worthy art, 
So let us two together, lest ill-fortune bid us part.”

Easticle and Westicle went bounding o’er a dale,
Till lo! They reached a shepherd’s green denied them by a rail.
Sayeth Easticle to Westicle, “We’ll leap this surly gate,
For we have youth and vigor, and no cause to hesitate.”

Easticle and Westicle came charging down the hill.
A valiant leap gave they, but fie! The gate was higher still.
A moist and throaty whomp was heard like liver on a stone,
When Easticle came to again, alas! He was alone.

“What ho, my goodman Easticle!” the frightened loner cried.
“I’m way up here, inside a cave, and O! ’Tis dark inside!”
Quoth Westicle, “If truth you speak, I’ll with thee straightaway.
The oath we swore to never part, I’ll honor it today.”

Westicle arose and faced the step-stile where it stood,
And with a mighty charge he dashed his meat against the wood.
And as the buds of springtime burst their shells in pregnant lust,
Just so, but in retreating order, shot he through that husk.

Behold the cows a-lowing on that hillside far beyond.
Behold the farmer sowing and the moorhens on the pond.
Behold the evening dimming and the day dismount the west.
Behold the master writhing with his knees about his chest.

Now, wish you for a moral, for it may be all for naught,
But know the oath you swear may leave thy master overwrought.
And youth and vigor oftentimes with pride go hand in hand.
What little cross of wood to oversee the fall of man.

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