A Tale Of Arthur Pendragon (King Of The Britons) Poem by Gert Strydom

This tale I was told by Morgan le Fay bit by bit
and a tale I call it
as it talks about a time beyond the present day
which into fairy tales and stories of knights do fit.

On a sunny day a barge came into the bay
and on it mortally wounded was
a great man, a man of faith and integrity
who did believe in prayer and in God,
(maybe the greatest warrior king that ever lived)
who believed in equal opportunities for all
and made his knight's table round as the world

but he was already far-gone
but to man and God he was an important one
and ferried by three black hooded ladies
(Áine, Nimue and Morgan le Fay)
the barge sailed into the bay
right up against the shore of Avalon
and to his wounds they each did care alone.

For years the Roman legions
who invaded the land was driven back
beyond Hadrian's Wall
by Arthur's well trained and equipped knights
who were all honourable men
but with his famous sword Excalibur
he even marched into the continent of Europe
used chariots and horses with great effect
with Sirs Lancelot du Lac, Kay, Gawain,
Percival and Bedivere at his side the battles
against the Romans and legion upon legion raged on
and in every battle Arthur was victorious

but from Camelot (Caerleon-upon-Usk) from Guinevere news came
that Arthur's nephew Mordred was laying the kingdom lame
by raids and had rebelled and was trying to seize it
and did kill anyone that was loyal to Arthur's name.

Guinevere (Gwenhwyfar) did beg Arthur to come home
and very upset Arthur did withdraw all his chariots and knights.
They did sail over the channel back to Britton in many ships
and after landfall did ride by horseback and chariot
chasing Mordred's forces from battle to battle
up to the battle of Camlan where finally Mordred was cornered,
at Lyonnesse against the mountains right next to the icy sea
and the great inland lake.
It was havoc on that battlefield with all knights engaged
and desperate Mordred threw a spear that did just miss Arthur
where in great anger Arthur dropped his great sword (Excalibur)
grabbed an own great spear and Mordred also grabbed another.
With great speed the two spears passes each other
and both the king and traitor were pierced.

Knight after knight fell on both sides after this
and the fighting was merciless
but only Sir Bedivere remained unscathed
and carried Arthur who lay motionless to a chapel.

Arthur told Bedivere that Merlin knows
that he will come again to rule
but where he is near to death
be it whatever comes,
but his fellow knights have all fallen
and their time is of the past
as that the world has changed,
God does rule in many ways
and he did entrusted Excalibur to Bedivere
to throw that great sword forged in Avalon into the lake.

Past the ruined shrine where in death knights of old lay
Bedivere went to the lake with a rocky path near to the bay,
could not flung Excalibur with its diamond hilt into the middle of it.
"What happened with my sword? " King Arthur did say.

Bedivere lied and was send back again and again,
yet another time to throw Excalibur away
and he did finally flung that great sword
with all of his force against his will
so that it spun over and over in the air
but before it could splash down
a female arm reached up
and grabbed it at the hilt.

While carrying Arthur past the tombs down the cliff's rock-face
from the sea a dark barge drifted in slowly with grace
with three women in black hoods guiding it
and to meet them at Arthur's instruction Bedivere lengthened his pace.

The ill and wounded not cured by the moonlight at Lough Gur
hear the banshees and know that death is approaching
but Áine, the banshee queen protector,
of those traveling to the underworld
did not want this kingly knight to die.
Nimue and Morgan le Fay from Avalon
the western Isle of the Blessed (the "other-world")
who could give eternal youth to conquering heroes
(both fairy queens with great magical powers)
knew Arthur well and his great deeds of goodwill
and they did their best to bring Arthur back to life.

After aeons these woman did not become decrepit
and just how they did do it
what happened to great king Arthur on Avalon
and thereafter do into volumes of other stories fit.

© Gert Strydom