• A Promise
    Cloven hooves pound the earth in steady rhythm, as the creature flees,
    Baying hounds cry, this way! this way!, with their shrill howls that pierce the air,
    Hunters hear with bows drawn taught, they urge their mounts ever faster,
    To catch the mighty unicorn,
    At his pool, he collapses, moon white sides heaving,
    Hearing the hounds, the unicorn takes a final stand; he rises on shaky legs, and faces his adversaries
    The onslaught begins and the once white horn drips with the blood of basset hounds, the sound hoof beats and trumpets, grow louder, closer
    Standing strong, proud, he waits,
    It does not take long; the arrow hits his heart true and straight,
    His knees buckle, his vision swims
    The hunters cheer, not seeing the single little girl go forth to the dying beast,
    I will not forget, in me, you shall live on, she whispers, and the unicorn dies, relieved,
    Heart heavy the girl mounts her father’s horse, holding back tears for princesses don’t cry,
    She avoids looking at the limp body being dragged behind them, and instead, focuses on the tapestry she wishes to weave, to uphold her promise,
    Her promise to not forget, the last unicorn to ever walk our magic starved earth.