** FOUR KNIGHTS **

Up to the castle rode four bold knights,
Black, white, silver and gold
The faces were young, but their quest was old
Black, white, silver and gold.                                                 

The first shone fair as Cupid’s bright quiver -
Black, white, gold and silver -
Smiling to see what the court would deliver
Black, white, gold and silver.

The second, an angel with long flowing curls
Gold, black, silver and white
But his eyes dreamt of home at the end of fame’s toils,
Gold, black, silver and white.

Three thrilled me, tall as the whispering pine tree
White, gold, silver and black
Noble head in the stars, he never looked down at me
White, gold, silver and black.

The fourth, I fear, I could not see clear
With his treasure held near, hidden safe from the world:
Silver, black, white and gold.
Still, bright he blazed, dear as the Light on the Shore
Steers home the Sailor, storm-tossed too long,             
Riding the void of the ocean’s dark core -
Wise as the knowing and fresh as a song:
Thus shone that Radiant One, neither young nor yet old,
Beauty and mystery strange to behold, in
Silver, black, white and gold.

                        * * * * *

Suddenly - the gates were flung open and out stepped four ladies
Dressed in the finest of satins and samite,
Pale as the shadows of meadows by moonlight;
And all the knights’ eyes together did dance
At their beauty, and a cheer rose like smoke
As laughter broke out and they all spoke at once -
So delighted were they by the ladies’ appearance!

Green Envy saw each lift his lady aboard,
Then with voices still ringing, they were once more abroad
And into the night, with a jangle of spurs,
Like Heaven’s own imaginings heard;
Surely marked for adventure, fortune and fame,
Names to be honoured through every domain:
Four dazzling knights that legend would track, in  
Gold, white, silver and black.

Thus, that sweet vision faded, leaving me sighing;                   
Vanquished, gazing at pennon crests flying              
Till all had passed by and vanished from sight,
And the last of their laughter grew faint and fell dying
Into the great mouth of Mother Night’s dome,
As she reclaimed her own,
(To the vast unknown),
Counting them home,
Each one star-bright,
(Children of light), in
Black, gold, silver and white.

 * * * * *