Book of Time XXII: Twenty-Second Hour

Every hollow knight
froze when Mary blew that horn.
She yelled, "Into the sea!"
Her voice rippled through the air
and each hollow knight obeyed.

Stride in unison,
the Elfin Knight's steel legion
faced the sea and lost.
Mary felt her armor shed

like an empty shell of light.

It too marched itself
down the shore littered with swords.
Mary felt the horn
slip out from within her hands.
It remained with the armor.

As the march commenced,
an armored duo removed
their helmets and plates.
Mary watched the man cradle
the woman who keeled in pain.

Mary approached them
asking, "When did she get hit?"
The man responded,
"She's not hurt, she's in labor."
Mary rolled her tunic sleeves.

Using her fingers
she whistled even louder
than an elfin horn.
The knight's horse trotted over.
The man said, "How did you know?"

Mary said, "A knight
would not leave their steed behind.
Parsley told me that."
The woman said to Mary,
"There's a garden up these hills.

It may be too far
even if we go on horse."
One last hollow knight
fell into the gaping sea.
Parsley drove out from the waves.

Richard Auriga

Nassau County, NY