For This Is the Story, An Old Poet Sought Not To Miss

For This Is The Story, An Old Poet Sought Not To Miss (Part One) I've ate Eden's last apple, coveted Jason's* golden fleece chained myself in caverns of darkness, begging no release refused mighty crowns of power, fed myself painful feasts crushed my beating heart, as if it were a ravenous beast. I've tamed the lions of Serengeti, sailed around the Horn* trekked unarmed, darkest jungles, where fiercest beasts are born slain dragons with Sequoias, tossed Rock of Gibraltar* walked in realms of Hades, spat upon its first altar. I've outran Hermes*, sank my teeth deep into granite walls sat beside Odin*, gave Thor's* first crown in Valhalla's* halls wrestled mighty Minotaur*, its armored hide I ripped stole the Nectar of the Gods*, laughed at them as I sipped. I've shot Eurytus' bow*, killed Titans* with Heracles sword* defeated dark Elf* armies, massacred Atilla's* first horde swung Hammer of Hephaestus*, slept in Forest of Burzee* trained Arminius army, taught them to show no mercy. I've quenched Vesuvius fires, held lightning in my hand flew bright skies over Asgard*, defended its precious homelands swam with Undines*, feasted with beautiful Amphitrites* fished with friend Ao Qin*, dragon king of the Southern Sea nights. I've seen this world of fantasy, inked its splendor in words sailed in its oceans of love and flown with magical birds dreamed in its word-paradise and found true love's deepest kiss for this is the story, an old poet sought not to miss. Robert J. Lindley Rhyme original version written , March 9th, 1977 edited/updated today- August 9th , forty-one years later