Untitled
Nathan Daum

Moonlight falling through the night
Landed on her shoulder
The air kissed quick with frosty bite
And so his heart grew bolder
For here they had arranged to meet
The lady and the ranger
And there she sat upon her seat
Waiting for a stranger
Gossamer folds of white she wore
Pure as the driven snow
Flaxen hair framed upon her brow
A jewel the shade of roe
Eyes of deepest sparkling blue
Beneath long lashes lay
Her cheeks of such a rosy hue
To bring again the day
Out he stepped into the light
Stars shining in his eyes
His dusty clothes first caught her sight
Her eyes widened in surprise
This was her suitor of unknown face
Who’s words had won her heart?
His heart began to swiftly race
As her eyes began to dart
Down she looked, down to his feet
His boots were battered and worn
His pants were drab and weatherbeat
His side a sword adorned
She saw the cloak about his neck
Shaded as the night
His eyes mirrored with great effect
The all-surrounding light
“I pay no heed to kings or queens
And care not for the towns
I walk the wood lit by moonbeams
And pace the barrowdowns
“I saw you once when last at court
Boredom etched upon your face
A longing for a distant port
Or a wild and untamed place
“This castle life is not for you
Courtiers and their ilk
Fawning praises onto you
With voice of smoothest silk
“Bereft of breath and blank of mind
Was I when at first sight
My mouth agape, my heart abind
I gazed upon your light
“Love enfused my heart and soul
And all the world was fair
Within my head a glad not toll
As I surrendered to your stare
“I determined that you were adrift
Without a port to reach
So I’ve sought to give your spirits lift
And land you on my beach
“And so I’ve sent you verses
Of the feelings that I hold
For you more than fair Venus
Deserve the apple gold
“I’ve left each not unsigned
For your reaction I knew not
When a ranger has such high design
His life is often sought
“But now no more may I
Hide behind a written word
For I would rather die
Were my love unreturned
“So I asked for you to meet me
Here where all are free
For fair lady, I entreat thee
To make you and I a we”
Thus spoke the ranger Arden
To the princess Meladier
And from the forest’s gentle garden
She sprang with greatest cheer
“Station is naught but title
And wealth is cold and fleeting
For me ‘tis far more vital
To have love and freedom keeping
“Yes my lord, my man, my love
We’ll run away from here
Let us off to where hawks soar above
And all about is clear
“My father’s castle of cold, dead stone
Sucks the life out from my being
Let me lie upon the forest loam
With you beside my sleeping
“The halls are filled with choking smoke
Ceilings over torch are black
Those castle walls press heavy yoke
Upon my breaking back
“Long have I known you in my dreams
And loved you all along
Now finding you my spirit sings
I know where I belong”
Thus the ranger Arden won
The heart of Meladier
And long before the rising sun
They walked amongst the deer