Tracing those steps,
little broken incline,
smallish undergrown shrubs,
past outcrop of pointed rockways
as pond water bubbles and steams
the life-force of frogspawn settling
sideways, among reed.

Dragonfly flitters, skaters slide
over tension with Olympic deft,
as the lily pad shudders,
green circles of haven for those
unburdened.

Stretched out Royal roads lead
to canyon and cavern,
obstacles scattered to prove allegiance,
but Knight still charges,
still soldiers forth to claim grail,
quest aligned to dead world.