Equal on the Battlefield

By: Scott Moseley

Though of King Arthur many stories are told

And of his Knights of the Round Table brave and bold,

A story most often not heard

Is that of a Yeoman, a young archer named Bert.

And a lesson came to be taught

By the bravery of Sir Lancelot

But that is not until later I am sure you're distraught.

It came upon a Monday morning

Where two armies to do battle were forming.

Both kings thought they had divine right

To be the victor by the end of the night.

Both prepared to quarrel and fight

Let their knights loose to kill with delight.

It soon became clear

To king Arthur dear

That knights alone couldn't win this war

And that he needed something more.

He put in every soldier

But as the day grew older

Bert had few friends that survived

But many that needed to be revived.

The Round Table was doing poorly as well

Though Sir Lancelot fought as twelve.

Bert did empty no less than forty a quiver

To put a shaft in enemies that only could shiver

Until alas

He shot a knight that happened to pass

And picking up his sword and taking his stead

Bert went about doing a knight's grand deed

But an enemy archer saw many a comrade die

And put an arrow into Bert's right side

Arm pinned to his flank

Bert screamed in pain

Dismounted did Bert

Although he was hurt

Raising his arm he snapped the arrow in twain

But this did cause him much pain

With his last ounces of strength an arrow notched did he

And grabbed the fletching in between his teeth

Holding the bow with his good arm

He knew the fatality of the harm.

He aimed at the bowman they locked eye to eye

They starred at each other then Bert let fly.

The arrow flew so true

It smote not one but two.

Sir Lancelot had seen it all

And anger made his battle call

He picked up Bert's bow and quiver

And made more shafts to shiver.

The day was done

The battle won

But not without great losses

As the sun did go down

The light glinting off King Arthur's crown

Head hung low for he knew how many soldiers had fallen 'round

But at least they slept now safe and sound.

'My bravest warriors I shall make them heirs

of what shall be eternally theirs.'

King Arthur said as he looked down trodden

As he looked into the face of Sir Lancelot who had fallen.