Green Knight, page 5

If you're just dropping in, you might want to start reading this long narrative poem for children at page one. Check the index.

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The sickle moon blinked in the treetops
Darkened, opened, waxed and waned
The light seeped back into the evenings
Gawaine felt fear and was ashamed

How quick that winter seemed to him
How hours flamed and minutes flared
Each second now did he keep note of
He counted them like beads at prayer

Spring came soon, the softest season
And Gawaine found his heart's fear eased
To lie in bluebells seemed enough then
To watch quick clouds upon the breeze

He lived a soft life, greatly favoured
By knights and ladies of the court
They honoured him for his doomed courage
They filled his days with talk and sport

Summer came, the wheat turned golden
The flax turned blue as midnight snow
And as the fall drew ever closer
Gawaine knew that he must go

The people gathered for his going
Though they were sad to see him leave
They honoured him with fine equipment
They tied their favours to his sleeve

They brought a tunic, brought a surcoat
Brought a mantel, all of silk
And red as heart-blood, red for courage
Bright as fire and smooth as milk

They choose a sword, they gave him armour
So bright it shone out from afar
Like silver water lapped with moonlight
And on his shield they set a star

They choose a horse, and joked it matched him
Young and plain, with a freckled face
They named her Steadfast, in his honour
A little mare of sense and grace

They hung bright banners for his going
They stood tiptoe to see him part
They sent him down the road with music
They held his funeral in their hearts