John R. Yaws' Traveler's Tales continue with this recently received tale. - poetheart 08/14/01
Buchana' is the Clan I claim-
An' fightin' is me trade!
I write a bit o' doggerel-
While burnishin' me blade.
Wha's 'at ye say? 'ow old am I?
I simply canna say-
The years roll on, an' on, an' on-
I go fra fray to fray.
Tamujin, 'im called Tamarlane-
Yon Asiatic Lord...
I seen 'im bring a Legion down-
A raidin' wi' 'is 'Orde.
Aye, I ken Rome, wha' ruled the worl'
From Tiber's verdant valley-
I bear 'er marks o' whip, ye ken?
Fra rowing on 'er galleys.
I di' quite well wi' blade, fer sure
To sate the Ceasars' lust-
While sheddin' blood o' beasts an' men
In tha' arena dust.
Ave Ceasar! torn fra throats-
An' lifted to the sky!
We fightin' men salute ye, sair-
Wha' are aboot to die!
Net, an' trident...chain, or mace-
Or gladius so keen-
Such rapine and debauchery-
The worl' ha' never seen!Pagh! Kingdoms come, an' kingdoms go-
While balancin' the scale-
I've seen 'em all, an' watched 'em fall-
Thus goes the Traveler's Tale!
by John R. Yaws