My steed rides roughly through the loam
We’ve traveled very wide and far
Battle weary but still on par
For all the road I’ve yet to roam
The longest road the first step home
The portion to right unjust wrong
The cost to our men’s lives was steep
The pride we sow we humbly reap
The battle fought was hard and long
Tales that become folklore and song
Glad it’s all done should truth be told
I contemplate my latest scar
Hopeful my queen forgives the mar
Small price to pay her gentle scold
To see the face I long to hold
A winter’s storm slows our advance
All far travels have their own cost
As we lose more men to the frost
My men look to me for guidance
I cannot waver in my stance
Though my own mood be very drear
It’s I alone who holds their hope
It’s by my lead I know they cope
The last goal twixt what we hold dear
My men let loose a hearty cheer
I may yet enter in a tome
The sight of the valley’s green sweep
And just ahead the Castle Keep
The wind becomes our wild mane’s comb
The shortest road the last step home
dVerse Poets Pub | Poetics: Exploring the Narrative Voice
Ingrid tends the bar at dVerse Poets and challenges us to write a poem in the voice of a fictional character. It can be any character. One can introduce the character in one’s own voice, but the main body of the poem must be in the voice of the character. It can be a dramatic monologue, or create a spirit voice through whom the poem speaks. The challenge is to experiment with fictional storytelling in the poem.
I’ve gone all medieval king returning home at the end of a battle.
Raivenne-lations 
I love this, so imaginative! A beautiful ballad, and such gentle lines from a warrior:
‘Small price to pay her gentle scold
To see the face I long to hold’
🙂
Thank you, Ingrid. It was a nice prompt.
I loved the return to the Castle Keep. Great write!
Thanks, Beverly!
A superb ballad–like a song of long ago! I also liked those lines that Ingrid mentioned, and how his thought is of home and his queen.
Even warriors kings want to rest, to love and be loved. Thanks, Merrildsmith.
You’re welcome!
–Merril
Where to even start with the beauty of this poem? I love the way you framed the longest and shortest steps as the first and last ones. I’ll also say that you’re so good at assuming different tones in your writing. It’s a skill I haven’t yet taken the time to develop – my writing is just always..me. You’re inspiring me to get braver, to try on other voices and tones in what I do. Thank you for that.
Why thank you, Lanie! I feel I can do different tones because I am a storyteller first and a poet second. I write in that perceived persona’s voice.
Glad I’m not alone. =)
It’s all said above … this is a sincerely amazing dramatic ballad of days long gone!
Your elegant description and depiction of weary battlers return rings true, you took me there. Well done 🙂
Thank you, Kate!
a real pleasure, you have talent!
I so enjoyed this enchanting story. I love the positive thoughts as the castle keep comes into view, home at last.
Thank you, Grace.
What do I think? This was a fascinating read ~~~ I found myself concentrating on the last line of each stanza for some reason …. creating a poem all on their own.
This is incredibly, incredibly stunning, Raivenne 💝 a wow factor seriously .. lovely, lyrcial rhymes cascading .. as the king returns home. 🙂
Thank you, Sanaa!
Excellent Raivenne, so well written.
Thanks, Rob.
Lovely ballad story – it brought the Lady of Shalott to mind, with a knight riding towards his castle.
Thank you. “Lady of Shalott”? I will have to google that. one.
I love the safe return… such a classic image, focusing just on the happy end, and not on the battle before.
Thanks, Björn. I imagine those who survive such battles do not wish to dwell too long on the details especially, in the immediate aftermath.