Pendragon (Celtic Inspiration)

From my collection Celtic Inspiration.

As the early morning light
softly broke through mist,
on the moors, I watched
and waited and my eyes
strained as the night gods,
shadows through the mist,
returned to their halls
and left this lonely place to me

Too early for even the dawn cries
too early for my fellow warriors
yet perhaps not too early for his return
and I must wait, alert and at my post
for he is my lord and I will not let him down
Not for any human weakness
of sleep calling my mind
still louder now that dawn comes

And in this half light I saw him come
this man-god walking slowly and stealthily
A blur against the light and mist
and yet I knew it was him
knew my lord approached
and my body trembled
as I knew it would be just me
just me to greet him home

I stood tall until he stood in front of me
not more than an arms length
and neither he nor I spoke
just gazed into each others eyes
And at a cognisant nod from my lord
I knelt down and laid my sword at his feet
He crouched and lifted my sword
and with it touched my shoulder

He bade me rise and held the sword
hilt toward me for me to take
his arm around my shoulder
with ne’er a word spoken
we walked into our camp
and we sat together
round the dying embers of a fire
and shared ale, my lord and I

And only in such moments can men share
Pendragon and a mere warrior not yet bled
no words were ever needed
just common understanding
his of mine and mine of his
He was home and he knew
that soon the others would wake
and his duties would begin once more

But for now he was Pendragon warrior
And could share a quiet moment with what he once was
He closed his eyes and as I watched
He tilted his head back and I
Just a man, just in service to my lord
saw that he too was just a man
but in this moment of weakness
I exalted him, for sharing this with me

My King had done for me an honour
That I will take to my grave
And as the first of our people woke
And in realising his presence
rushed to pay homage
He sighed and resumed his role
This burden that had been placed on his shoulders
Pendragon, Lord of all Britons

© Philip G. Bell

A very interesting and well written piece
thanks so much for sharing

Love and Light

Maria

Thank you Maria, Pendragon was the courtesy title given to the king or chief of the ancient Celts. Uther Pendragon was Arthur's father who inherited the title upon his father's death.

I tried to imagine being a sentry posted at an encampment waiting his Kings return.

I must agree with Maria.

And you had capted it really well, Philip. For me this one is one of your best.


Sofia

Thank you Sofia,
It is in my future book and I really did enjoy writing it. I have performed the piece at a number of readings and it presents an interesting monologue to apply some voice acting to.
Philip

Your imagination is ready to include all of us in the land of magic between reality and mythology. Nice and very interesting poetical expression.

Sonja

Thanks Sonja - I do like to spend some time there, and if I can take some friends - then that is great!

Philip

This poem hit home gor m! My ancestiors were Celtic! Exceptionally done!

Thank you Lanaia, I always felt that I might have some Celtic blood but a while back I treated myself to a DNA test at Oxford Ancestors and it confirmed a solid Celtic DNA link through my father's side.

Philip