Sir Justin’s Quest Goes West!

‘Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise, you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.’ ― C.S. Lewis

Tournament, fair and fete…

The crowd was excited!

One maiden arrived late.

The Herald was blighted.

‘Sir Justin is jousting…’

‘You are jesting, I’m sure!’

Her remark was rousting!

Her defiance was pure!

‘Hush!’, cried the Men-at-Arms,

‘Your intrusion is through!

Don’t make us harm your charms,

Your fair sex shan’t save YOU!’

‘My Abbess needs a knight!

A knight who can brawl well!

A bold man who can fight…

A savage beast from Hell!’

‘A monster’s in our land!

ACTION is what we need!

A bold man with strong hand,

A skilled sword and fast steed!’

A shudder swept the crowd!

A young man gave answer,

When he spoke, he spoke LOUD!

‘I will speak for my Sir!’

‘When danger gets dire,

My Sir Justin is best!

His squire’s no liar,

My knight zests for a quest!’

‘I am Squire Jason,

Who are you, lady fair?’

She said, ‘We must hasten!

My name is Mary Clair.’

Sir Justin spoke, ‘Fair maid…,

I will vanquish your beast!

A strong slash from my blade.

then the foul beast’s deceased!’

‘Squire! Pack for journey!

Make haste so we can start!’

We’ll leave from this tourney.

Mary Clair, in our cart!

‘Squire! Fetch my banner!

(I am knight banneret.)

Lead us to your manor,

We shall vanquish the threat!’

‘Sir Justin’s West questing!

‘We’ll be besting the beast!

And there’ll be no resting,

‘till the victory feast!’

Three days o’er hill and dale!

Three nights with wolves and bear!

A quest that must not fail!

Fourth morning, they were there!

Mary Clair shouted bold,

‘Brave Sir Justin is here!’

To the abbey she told,

‘with his steed Belvedere!’

‘And Jason his squire!’

Abbess said at the gate,

‘Welcome to all, sire’

You have not come too late!’

The Abbess spoke to all,

‘First dine at our table,

Bread, cheese, wine in our hall!

Your steed in our stable!’

‘First drink, dine, and then rest

Ere I show the havoc.

The most foul in the West.

In garden and paddock!’

‘Now prepare for the worst!

Be strong, your hearts harden!

What you will see is cursed!’

They entered the garden.

She said, ‘Look what we found!

All our fruit is eaten!

Dead greenery all round!

Our hopes are all beaten!’

Stunned Sir Justin looked down,

‘We thought to understand,

Hamlet, village and town,

When beasts ravaged your land.’

‘We thought not of garden,

But woe and death acute.

My soul does not harden,

merely for your lost fruit.’

‘WHERE is your dreaded beast?

I do NOT see its spoor.

Has its rampaging ceased?

I hear no dragon’s roar.’

All turned to Mary Clair.

‘YOU said you saw a beast!’

The nuns grew angry there,

‘Have your dumb lies increased?’

She replied, ‘I saw it!

The truth I did proclaim!

I smelt brimstone with it,

It roared, then shot Hell’s flame!’

All heard a strange loud roar,

‘Gadzooks! What do we hear?’

Sir Justin said, ‘It’s war!’

The nuns wailed in fear!

The Abbess was smitten,

‘Behold! Creature of lore!

It’s a reptile kitten!!!

Big as a dog, no more!’

Sir Justin laughed, ‘It’s small!

Did you see another?

THIS creature is not tall,

Like father and mother?’

‘What beast do we have here?

THAT’S what you are smelling?’

He pointed at its rear,

‘Tails GROW in the telling!’

The nun’s laughter did fade,

Sir Justin made mock threat,

As he pulled out his blade,

‘Listen, yon dragonet!’

‘You’re lusting for busting!

Hey! I’m talking to you!

My sword will be thrusting!

Then your life will be through!’

Sir Justin ceased his spite.

The creature’s eyes turned red!

It jumped high towards the knight!!!

Would Sir Justin be dead?

Frightened nuns wailed chants.

It leapt o’er the knight’s head,

Noises came from the plants,

In its mouth, a rat dead!

Squire spoke, ‘Rats in copse!

I saw this when a page,

The RATS destroyed your crops!

THIS beast eats them with rage!’

All gave a hearty laugh.

Sir Justin now proclaimed,

‘Make him your garden staff!

This beast was wrongly blamed!’

‘Come, dragonet, join us!’

The happy beast did so!

The Abbess proclaimed thus,

‘This beast is a he-ro!’

The abbey rang its bell.

The Abbess asked, ‘What next?

ANOTHER beast from hell?

Or is our Westland hexed?’

They heard, ‘THOUSANDS of rats!!!’

A boy from the village,

‘They chased away our cats!

Our village is pillaged!’

Sir Justin faced the beast,

‘What, fair beast, do YOU think?

Would you like a rat feast?’

It replied with a wink!

Sir Justin and Abbess,

Mounted their fearless steeds.

‘We will pray for success

For knight and dragon’s deeds!’

Abbess and boy on horse,

Sir Justin, Belvedere,

With dragonet, of course…

Only HEROES were here!

The village full of rats,

Dragonet roared its cry!

The rats ran to mud flats,

To the river, that’s why!

Rats swam to the far side!

Dragon’s flame on water!

The rats aflame! They fried!

‘Hooray! Rodent slaughter!’

Burnt rats left the river,

Vermin dead on its shore.

‘This beast’s a life giver!’

The beast all did adore!

Leapt over water hot,

The beast dined on hot rats.

Cooked fish floated; a lot!

The villagers ate that!

Everyone had their feast!

Humans, beast together.

Their friendship soon increased.

‘Stay with us forever!’

Sir Justin has a home,

He’s now their shire reeve.

No longer shall he roam.

Now with wife, I believe.

Jason’s with Mary Clair.

Husband and wife are set,

Happy together there,

With a pet dragonet.

When you do journey West,

Hear the dragonet’s call.

Their friendships are the best!

My tale is done, that’s all!

FIN

Author Notes: Beware the Ides of March/St. Patrick's Day

Recommend Write a ReviewReport