The Barkley Legend

"Come my lady, come, come my lady
I would lead thee forthwith to safety."
All that night plus many nights before
Phantasmal the glimmer, a jewel-encrusted door.
Yet she listened to her heart, not.

But Barkley's arms enfolded her,
Oh, so sweet.
Kissed her head, kissed her feet.
"Come my lady, come, come my lady
I would lead thee forthwith to safety."

Night after night her body turned about
A melange of truths dropped softly from without.
"Come, my lady, come, come my lady
I would lead thee forthwith to safety."

Winter passed, words forgotten.
Spring came, words softened.
"Come my lady, come, come my lady
I would lead thee home to safety."

His countenance smiled as her doubts peeled away,
Falling down, wrinkled bark from an old primeval play.

The heart became attentive
The heart began to sing.
That night she surrendered
An entry she did commend.

As she listened to her heart, yes
She drempt in raw silks, of royal blue like a princess
But at dawn's early break, coming black like a tempest,
The weather turned around.

Storm clouds were billowig high overhead
Tree tops bending the wind to its bed,
Vines ensnaring below at her feet,
Branches like claws her body entreat.
Stung mightly by thorns, as promises unkept
She fell to her knees.
He smiled as she wept.

As promises had showered her,
Now slimed in mud, too late she remembered
Words clearly unstood.

And Barkley saw her, laughed with glee
As she struggled within his web of deceit.

She tried to slip gracefully through mire all around.
Barkley watched, excited, a smile at his crown.
"Come my lady, come, come my lady,
I will lift thee up to safety."

"But why, oh my chieftan?"
She managed to utter.
"Innocence, obedience, for thee is but fodder?"

And Barkley, black-whiskered, with a long throaty purrr,
Leaned closer and closer as if to make sure.

"Let me get this straight", he said to my lady.
"You have run all night.
You are driving me crazy.
Have you not heard the rumor?
So clean. So fine.
I AM BARKLEY!
THE BARKLEY!
I eat my young alive."

As he watched, all excited, his words haunting the air,
Came closer and nearer, his lips to her hair.

"How did thee like it, hmmmmmm?"

And as he listened to her breathing so heavy,
Their hearts spoke as one, "Are thee not ready?"
"Take me now, take me later", she whimpered and cowered.
"No matter how, no matter why, I am thine forever."

Çhaennnon, Sacrificial Virgin, Barkley 2001