The Knight and his Lady

“The Knight and his Lady” is a poem which

I wrote for Australia Day poetry. A poem

was required with an Australian flavour for

the Australia Day poetry of Poetry in Paradise

group.  I also think of the poem as The Lady

and her Knight.

This poem has also been included in Joan Small's

e-book of poetry for Australia Day from poets of

Poetry in Paradise which Joan has

very kindly put together.

I include the poem here and there were a few late minute

revisions and editing which have not been included in

the e-book version of my poem. The last paragraph

unfortunately has been omitted. This may have been due to

time pressures.

The Knight and his Lady

And in this land of great contrasts,

where ocean swells and sunset spells

cast magic over the gathering night

purple mountains and crimson light

the outback, desert, storm weathered trees

and silent plains,

in silhouette

enduring beauty lasts;-

Where birds of great plumage

Stir in trees, sparking colours

in the breeze

And a golden daffodil sways on a hill

And a little gold-fish swims in a pool so still

And out of the darkness reached this light

A golden beam ever bright

The Knight and his Lady

from the Night;

The Knight and his Lady

from distant times:

His bow was courteous

And her curtsy swept the floor:

“Oh, My Lord! Is it really you?

Did you not know that I was ever true?”

A horse so sturdy from the land,

Bedecked in colours from his hand

In majestic circles pawed the ground

This one time the Knight was found:

In the Lady's dreams or not?

For down through the ages

Bereft or still

The Lady dreamt of her Knight!

And today, in Australia

on these golden shores

Where the sea-gulls

echo, and cry and soar

Where azure skies do meet the sea

and the sand glistens, mesmerising, beautiful

And the lady on the shore

Looks out as before:

Awaiting her Knight

From old-time lore:-

This Knight and the Lady

presently met

Where from old times

they always went

And time together

was often spent;

Now in passing

She wonders why

The Lord and his Lady-

The times went by:

Now in increasing shadows and loneliness

The Lady reasons with her Knight

Why from Australia must they flee in flight?

A beauteous country,

Australia IS:

If only there is room for the Lady and her Knight:

God speed and good wishes for the Lady and her Knight:

A beauteous dream if there ever be:

A good Lady and her courtly knight:

From the casement windows of a keep

The Lady sees the contours and the sheep

As it was in England after a long sleep:

“ Oh, My Lord, is it really you?

I sang your praises loud and true:

I watched as sunlight glinted bright

And the Heavens gleamed in a starry night:

And the birds would echo, arch and soar

flap golden wings

ocean flecked spray and sunlight as before:”

There from the shadows

Spied she

The Knight's bright carriages

and entourage,

They travelled far

in these wind-swept times;

Songs of love

and distant shows

Courtly minstrels recited poetry

As evening glows:

How far we've come

to a distant shore:-

the land of blizzards

and temperate clime

Where the eels and lizzards

find their space

From the space of another time;

Now in the evening glow

As fire-light crackles

And the sparks do jump

With great forests of ever-green:

The Lord and his Lady enjoy the scene:

As their life has once been

Now will they

their lives redeem:

“My Lord, for you

I would always care-

This I knew

For many a year.”

Good luck, good wishes

and all the best

Now for a love ever blessed:

God in his mercy

looks down from above

Sees the beauty of enduring love.

I would also like to wish everyone a Happy New Year

for 2012 and hope that this year is a good year.

I have also been fortunate to find two wonderful books

with illustrations by Pro Hart of poetry of Banjo Patterson

and Henry Lawson which I will enjoy reading which was

available at a sale. 

I once also found the wonderful book of

"The Sun-King's Garden" by Ian 

which is a magnificent illustrated

book from a sale at Australia Fair.

For an e-book of Australian Poetry for Australia Day

from Poetry in Paradise please refer to Joan Small's

link for the free download: A Kaleidoscope of Aussie Poetry:

http://joansmallpoetryandbooks.com/poetry_in_paradise.html

Best wishes from Sandra