by Steve Tanham
Dark Night of the Stone
Freezing fingers clutch the silver cup
The thin but faithful horse stands grace
Equine feelings urge Gawain, “Go on”
The mountain stream adds ice; its own
Completing miseries’ embrace
——-
How did we come to this, Gawain?
His frozen thoughts; the pain, protest
How did we seek a place unknown
To pay the debt we shouldn’t own
From Christmas last, a bitter jest!
——-
He fingers coins, full purse of spite
“Perhaps I’ll buy a room!”
But round him snow and frozen streams
Speak far of warming tavern’s dreams
And icy wind that offers only doom
——-
A mind, half starved, breaks off a branch
“May I divine a place to Yule!”
The joke is lost on blackening fells
Which long for village evening bells
Far from that place where death’s the only rule
——-
His strength no more can fight the cold
He draws his sword and drives its mark
Into the earth, then at this cross begins to pray
In deepest heart beloved Arthur finds a way
And fire which needs no place defies the dark
©Copyright Stephen Tanham, 2015
Sun in Gemini 
Reblogged this on Anita & Jaye Dawes and commented:
stunning poetry!
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Reblogged this on Daily Echo and commented:
As Steve contemplates his role in Leaf and Flame next April….
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Thank you, Sue. I hope it was dark enough to suit the role???
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*falls over laughing…*
It’s sort of a Peter Pan moment… think crocodile… and that eternal ticking… 😉
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Loved this!! You have such a skill 🙂
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Thank you, Blondeusk. Lovely comment – glad you liked it.
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Reblogged this on Michaelphelps1's Blog and commented:
Only can I imagine living in that long ago time, having experiences and memories made.
I liked this!
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Thank you for the kind comment on Dark Night of the Stone, Michael. Sorry for the late reply – we’ve been visiting stone circles! Steve
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Reblogged this on Stuart France and commented:
Our Dearly Beloved Leader characteristically contemplates his impending doom at the forthcoming Silent Eye Workshop. Leaf and Flame :The Foliate Man…
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