Konrad at the Bridge

by Charric van der Vliet

Twas in the land of Meridies
The Midrealm came to play
To take and burn in Border Raids
Upon a Saturday

There in the lands too southern far
For most to travel there
In heat so hot, the fighters sweat
And men could see the air

Middle men upon a bridge
Did struggle hard to hold
For foemen of Meridies
Dearly bought and sold

Each inch of wood, each little part
Was held and pushed on back
Fortunes dim for Middle men
Who held their fortunes black

Hard behind the bridges end
The stalwart Konrad stood
There with Red Spears’ Baron served
In this field and the wood

As Fortuna’s face was turned 
He lofted shield great
So large a giant could not lift
And none so big its mate
 
Lofted high his fiery brand
And took a sturdy stride
His Baron followed close behind
His own sword swinging wide
 

Some men stood upon the way
Upon his armies’ side
Those who did not clear the way
No longer there did bide
 
More men followed in their wake
The Flaming Gryphon flew
None were sure just what the sons
Of Red Spears were to do

But soon the foe were falling back
The yeomen and the peers
Fallen from the Hero’s path
Of Konrad of Red Spears

Men flew left and men flew right
And men were trampled down
And every shot at Konrad aimed
Was deflected from his crown
 
By his Baron and his friends
Who deflected every pat
The storm brought comment from the south:
"Jus’ whut the hay’l is thayut??"

An ax climbed o’er the mighty shield
At last the champion fell
And followed servants forty two
Upon the road to Hell

But still the mighty tale is told
Where ere the south is sat
Of how they looked up, mystified:
"Jus’ whut the hay’l is thayut??"