Ebook
Our Lady of Silk
by
Jerome Brooke
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Crusade of the Last Days
Your knights of the Cross sail today, they march,
March to the desert of the South.
Grant us peace, grant us mercy, Lord of Hosts,
On the Crusade of the Last Days.
In the desert waits the Evil One, terrible in iron,
May our fleet arrows be sharp.
In the cold night waits our certain death,
May our iron swords be sure.
Jerome Brooke
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Silk and Steel
Turning, turning, the red token waved,
Turning in the air.
Hearing the cheers, the High Queen smiled,
Our Lady once fair.
On his brave, black steed, the knight held high,
Then set, his iron lance.
His wild, foaming horse reared, pawed the dusk,
Then did proudly dance.
High, high was his heart, high was his lance,
His cold, iron lance.
Fast, fast was the charge, fast the dance,
The reckless, cruel dance.
Racing, racing, two iron warriors now rode,
Rode, and did clash.
Riding, riding, lances aflame, raced the men,
Raced to cut, and slash.
Jerome Brooke
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Queen of the Saxon Shore
Pennants of red, and emerald green, did stream,
Twisting in the dim light.
Shadows fell from the mute, sheer walls,
Hiding all, all from sight.
Warrior queen, daughter of Woden, hidden god,
Thou that bears the Silver spear;
Look to the sea, the great North Sea, search now,
For the lost, look for one dear.
Mistress of the West, Queen of the Saxon Shore,
Ruler of the dark, gray Main;
Look to the South, to the far, burning South,
Look for the warrior, now slain.
Mistress of the fortress, Sister of Ravens,
Priestess of the Lost Realm;
Look for the warrior, search for the Knight,
Lord of the Golden Helm.
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Robes of Scarlet
Lost, the city stood near the sandy bar,
Circled by walls of stone.
Towers stabbed at the bright, fleeing stars;
Round the deserted keep, alone.
Bastion of lost empire, strong and bold,
With towers, standing tall.
Our Queen, Noble Lady, in her hall of gold,
Lead them all.
Brave queen of horse, Commander of Sail,
Stand against the mute horde.
Truth and love, bronze helmet and iron mail,
Weep for your fallen Lord.
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Hill Fort
High, high on the dark, far horizon,
By the troubled North Sea,
Stood the white fort, the lone city,
High wealth and honor be.
Brave fortress, with walls of earth,
Alone in the night;
Outside, lies the waiting foe, without mercy,
Looking, for the light.
With the dawn came the dire time,
Shouts, and fear.
Wild were their cries, ringing high,
Sounding clear.
Bronze swords, sharp and cruel,
Came from the North Sea,
Swords raised, against the fort,
High renown and honor be.
******************
Rally
Few against many, betrayed by fate,
Our line stood,
Men covered in robes of burning scarlet,
With crimson hood.
Raiders of the cold, icy North,
Did cry out.
Men of the South heard well,
Well their shout.
But soon, soon a sweet song rang out,
Bravely, a song of spring.
In mail of iron, heavy and icy cold,
In defiance, a lad did sing.
Storms dance on high, dark clouds,
Do race away,
Dance of death, men dance merrily,
Gladly today.
Raiders saw men who feared not,
Not the northern spear.
Raiders looked at men who held,
Mere life, not dear.
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Ador
Ladies of the court, with grace and charm,
All walk with our Ador.
Ladies of love, and courtesans of song,
All these and more.
In robes of gold and red, silk of pale flame,
Walks our Lady, our maiden fair,
Black eyes flashing fire, burning and cold,
With circlet of gold, holding dark hair.
Noble knights, with swords of steel and honor,
Slay and burn.
Spirits of fire, red crosses on fields of white,
All dance, all turn.
Priests, in robes of white, aged and solemn,
White hair, marking wisdom,
Listen to music, music of stars and spheres,
Wise, in the laws of heaven.
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Rally
Few against many, betrayed by fate,
Our line stood,
Men covered in robes of burning scarlet,
With crimson hood.
Raiders of the cold, icy North,
Did cry out.
Men of the South heard well,
Well their shout.
But soon, soon a sweet song rang out,
Bravely, a song of spring.
In mail of iron, heavy and icy cold,
In defiance, a lad did sing.
Storms dance on high, dark clouds,
Do race away,
Dance of death, men dance merrily,
Gladly today.
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Procession
Priests, in robes of white, aged and solemn,
White hair, marking wisdom,
Listen to music, music of stars and spheres,
Wise, in the laws of heaven.
Ladies of the court, with grace and charm,
All walk before.
Ladies of Love, courtesans bold, all walk with her,
Our Queen, Ador.
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Crystal Palace
Near the centre, near Saint Peters,
Stands the crystal palace.
In the palace, near the silver fountain,
Sleeps our Queen, in lace.
Through halls of gold and bright silver,
Proceeds our Noble Queen.
Leading her knights and great lords,
Trailing her robe of green.
Above the black towers, dark clouds gather;
Red banners wildly toss.
Our Lady of Swords calls, calls out to the ranks,
Pale Legions of the Lost.
Gates of iron close fast, under blue stars,
Cohorts of the moon.
Our legions march, with spears, march to death,
On the morn, so soon.
In her palace of crystal, sleeps our lady,
Our Victorious Queen.
She speaks the name of one, one in her legion,
No more to be seen
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Parapet
In darkness, in shadows, our Lady turns,
Her robes of green round her fly.
Her noble soul aflame, bright in rage,
All quake before her, all die.
Through halls of gold and silver bright,
Proceeds our noble Queen.
Leading her knights and mighty lords,
Trailing her robe of green
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Champion of the Queen
In cold darkness, stood the tall tower,
Red, of glowing stone.
Among the shadows walked the Queen,
Our Lady Fair, alone.
Behind mute walls walked the Lady of Swords,
Covered by robes of white.
In darkness, in night, was the Queen of Spears,
Hidden from eyes, from sight.
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Cold Steel
Covered in plate, the knight stood,
Silent, on the bridge of stone.
His hand, in iron mail, reached,
Reached to our Queen, alone.
Our Queen, with her cold, cruel sword,
Held high the blade, so shear.
Cold steel, shining clear, and cold steel,
Met in ice, ice and cold fear.
Come back, brave knight, with the sword,
The sword so bold.
Return to me, wild heart, champion mine,
With captives, with gold.
Return to me, come to me, Favorite Mine,
With heart so pure,
Come back, return, my sweet, fair one,
With eyes so soft, so sure.
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Cold Steel
Covered in plate, the knight stood,
Silent, on the bridge of stone.
His hand, in iron mail, reached,
Reached to our Queen, alone.
Our Queen, with her cold, cruel sword,
Held high the blade, so shear.
Cold steel, shining clear, and cold steel,
Met in ice, ice and cold fear.
Come back, brave knight, with the sword,
The sword so bold.
Return to me, wild heart, champion mine,
With captives, with gold.
Return to me, come to me, Favorite Mine,
With heart so pure,
Come back, return, my sweet, fair one,
With eyes so soft, so sure.
**************
Green Shield
In blackness stood the tower,
Built of black stone,
Among shadows walked,
Weeping, our lady, alone.
Her warrior bore a shield of green,
With dragon gold.
Cry not he said, when last they met,
I shall return.
*************
Knight of the Cross
For her knight with the Cross of Red,
Fell her precious tears.
For the crusader, the Green Knight,
Were her consuming fears.
Half a world away, marched the warriors,
Crusaders, our Legion.
In the desolate waste, rode the knight,
Marked, as Champion.
Champion of the True Queen,
Knight of the Cross;
Ride to victory, ride to the fore,
Into the mist of the lost.