Tale of Two Arrows
Twas by sunlit lavender fields they met
in France, each man with bow and with arrow.
On show, skilful eye, for all to place bet
with target moving, freely and narrow
of size no greater than smallish sparrow;
yes, famed Robin Hood of Old English dwell
in rendez-vous with Swiss gent William Tell
Upon olive tree with two spread branches
thereby placed on each, a mouse in scurry
back and forth darting with quick skip and dances
while each mouse in fear, frightened and flurry
Wee John sweats with his deep look of worry
and Marianne, with crossed palms on her breast,
and eyes closed—as bowstrings now drawn in zest.
A silk scarf falls lightly from noble's hand
and to earth it greets ground as launching deed
then by archer's will, in true just command
two arrows fly slicing the air at speed.
Indeed, by all, a true winner decreed
as one rodent spared with his sliced off tail
the other, an arrow through heart did sail.
So to dear Nottingham Robin returned
and William, alone, to Swiss alpine slopes.
One dozen gold coins the winner had earned
the loser had left with dashed empty hopes.
So in timbers where live kind English folks
a feast merry was had by all who could
with mouse-bloodied arrow of Robin Hood!
Copyright © Marco Bing | Year Posted 2019
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