the muslim's tale xviii
three volleys rend the air - without effect
the deamon struts in prouder mood
his martial demonstration proved
a single arrows hangs from of it's neck
and again the world falls silent - still -
to be broken by the clattering of arrows
dropped from the mouthes of gleeful snakes
taken on the wing as a lover plucks a rose
in disdain it takes a half-dead child
and snacks upon the head and breast
seasoned by the rattled gasps
with profundo belch the beast digests
out rolls a sigh into laugh into a sneer
into a screech into a scream
into a feral curse - spooking all the horses
beyond bit whip or spur - they flee in fear
to the background of alurams and cries
only ali remains to face the foe
unarmed - but for his trusty knife -
ali stands in faith as the shadow grows
and grows - and darkens on approach
eclipsing slow the waning sun
drawing all to it's dark bronze eyes
that whisper to the soul calumnious lies
stout and bold within death's ring
ali signals do not fight nor swing
to those who fled but now return
the written fate is his alone