The Luminaria: A Pantoum

Prelude: A Palandyren Ballad

"Princeling, child of forest fair,

seek the star in dragon's lair,"

said the witch with ragged hair.

So the Princeling journeyed forth and far,

and found a dragon with scales of tar,

and cut its head and stole its star.

Said the star, "I am freed by thee.

I will show you mercy and let you flee,

for I am a curse, once trapped, now free."

And the Princeling knelt by the dragon's head,

the Princeling wept and the dragon bled,

a bitter tear on a dragon dead.

— from To Kill a King