Book of Time XVI

Mary called his name,
but Parsley vanished in time.
The elfin knight laughed
while he was bound in heather.
He said, “Your fighter is gone.”

Ty unsheathed their sword,
holding it to the knight’s neck.
The knight said, “Do it.”
Mary said, “One moment, Ty.
I want to ask him something.”

The elfin knight said,
“What could a lonely human
have to ask of elves
but resources or romance?
Your people are all the same.”

Mary asked the knight,
“The seal you wear bears your curse?”
The knight held his tongue
until Ty forced his reply.
He said, “Without it, I’ll die.”

Ty said, “I don’t care.
Any more questions, Mary?”
Mary turned to Ty,
“Please look after my aunt Rose,
until I come back of course.”

Ty saw the glimmer
reflecting in Mary’s eyes.
She said, “I’ll save them.”
Donning the elven armor,
Mary touched the steel suits’ seal.

Under a full moon,
Mary slipped in between time
searching for Parsley.
Ty buried the elfin knight,
and drove Rose to Scarborough.

Rose said, “My Mary,
how can I be where she is
if trouble finds her?”
Ty said, “Aunt Rose, trust Mary
like she trusts you. She’ll save them.”

Richard Auriga

Nassau County, NY