Another Ballad of Sir Elios

When Elios, the errant knight, Romped off to town one day, The peasants there were filled with fright, Much to the knight’s dismay.

“Now cease your step and drop your sword-” A voice behind him said. The knight then followed in accord. “-Or else, you’ll lose your head!”

Elios tried to turn dramatically, Quickly face this newfound foe. He soon found himself, erratically, Quickly shifting in the snow.

The stranger raised their sword and yelled: “Stop moving, knave, I say!” Elios told himself, impelled: “It’s reckless now to stay!”

The stranger swung in one, wide arc, The knight would slip and fall, The blade had barely missed its mark. “This isn’t fair at all!”

The knight yelped in tremendous fear, He clutched his sword once more. Elios jumped up like a deer, And appeared as if to war.

The stranger caught up swiftly. They bound with dance-like grace, And threw their fist quite stiffly, Right into his wide-eyed face.

Elios fell onto his back, And for the third time too. He hit the ice and heard a CRACK! His world then turned to blue.

The water underneath the ice sheet, Was more frigid than above, He heard the slowing of his heartbeat, And his hopefulness thereof.

But as he yelled and cried for help, A peasant girl was near. And hearing his repeating yelp, She overcame her fear.

She then dove in right after him, And hastily pulled him out. They nearly lost both life and limb, And now stumbled ‘round about.

They warmed themselves beneath the sun Then each traded their thanks. They simply talked till day was done, And then parted by the banks.

The stranger watched them from afar, And a plot did they contrive. A wicked plot to kill and mar, ‘Cause the knight was still alive.

phosphoresce Shravani Bankar

Photography