Becoming the Conquered Beast

  1. The knight, with sword drawn high, struck down with strength increased.
  2. Slayed the dragon, but — surprise — himself became the beast.
  3. Toward the sweetened fruit, led the rod so strait,
  4. But through the years, from rust and strain, became the building great.
  5. Shedded plate and shield to fling a fatal stone,
  6. Then grew four feet, a giant now, for he’d become the foe.
  7. A stone cut without hands, careening down the hill
  8. The statue smashed, then in a flash, the statue’s place did fill.
  9. The silence of the grove, the buzzing of the bees
  10. Have been replaced with mountain halls secured by locks and keys.
  11. The mustang roaming free, wind whipping at its mane,
  12. Is bridled now, and saddled up, and hauling ’cross the plain.