My poem, “Knight,” appeared in Great Poems of the Western World, Vol. II, ed. John Campbell (World Poetry Press, 1990), 428-29.
Knight
A knight of gleaming polished armor
shining in the wind!
Black sparkles in his burnished hair —
his precise, chiseled face
darkened and flushed,
body trim and worked and fine
eyes the mirrors of his soul
deep and full and rich like
a darkened shade of the earth
movements like the flowing sea,
rage and fury like an eagle’s wings,
a wave crashing
or calm and cool like a placid lake,
a falling leaf.
A little, emerald-green, sparkling dragon
perches like a parrot
on his shoulder —
a jeweled sword hilt,
a swift steel sword,
strong arms that wield it
this knight
of silver gleaming polished armor
shining in the wind.
* Cordially dedicated to José Fierro:
you inspired me.