I am the Blacksmith

“I am the blacksmith”
are the words I speak.
A gentle tone said with
a bland reference.

Even while I stand there
face to face with grand knights
with all their royal air,
I know not any fear

Memories flood my mind
bringing forth pain still fresh
of a war with no kind.
This is why I still hide.

Not long ago, I stood here
preparing knights for journeys long.
My sire strode with no fear
standing calm amongst them there.

He asked for me to come with him
to a far land riddled with war,
but I did not leave on mere whim.
I wished to save my wife from sin.

Filled with grief for my fallen bride,
I prayed Jerusalem relieved
the pain gained from loss of my wife
and our own glorious child

My father was wounded
in a fight to defend me
I tried to cry but couldn’t
when knighted to defend when others wouldn’t

My father died before I departed
He made me his heir and a knight of God,
Jerusalem, the king and Ibelin.
To defend the great King of Heaven


“Go to the land where they speak Italian
then continue until they speak something else.”
We left the coast of the bay of Messina.
It never felt any less alien

Across the vastly sea,
trapped in a violent storm,
the Holy Land was seen:
a desert with great sheen

There I slain an Arabic man
Who claimed my horse his
And wished to fight in the sand.
I fought unwilling yet showed mercy.

His servant took me to the city
where the Holy Christ died.
I chose to set him free,
and he gave words of comfort to me.

I prayed all the day to the Lord
on the hill where his son had died.
Unrelieved of the burden bore,
I then had to pick up my sword.

I took up my role as the son of my sire.
I met with the king of all of Jerusalem.
He spoke comfort to me and I found a new higher:
to serve this kind yet wise man became a strong desire.

I worked the land of my father
and sought to protect the people,
until such a time war weathered
when I re-met the servant-warrior.

Time passed in months and the king was called out
when many were slaughtered in a caravan.
Saladin marched to kill he who led said bout,
the servant-warrior stood a lord with doubt.

The King died not long after that day.
He asked me to forge an unholy bond
as his sister’s king in order to save
the people he was forced to give away.



My heart broke to deny his request
for I still wept for my fallen bride.
Now I wish I had taken the quest
and saved all those Guy put to rest

I chose to instead of marching in the dunes,
to stay and defend Jerusalem from
the enemy who brought a certain doom.
And prepared under the sun and the moon.

Fear that gripped their souls was severe.
With no knights all were without courage.
but none gave in to their fear,
Knighted all stood with new pride and cheer

We took all of the bombardment
and waited until the time came
to strike back with no resentment
but to protect those who shouldn’t be spent.

Saladin struck a deal me:
To give up the city to Muslims
and all escorted to the sea
I agreed only to this decree

The Defender of Jerusalem led
all his people to the safety of sea
while they all mourned for the beloved dead.
Yet I strode the path with high held head.

In my journey, I found new hope
God sent for me to defend him.
For he knew I could cope
and not let go of the reign’s rope.

Now the Lionheart stood forthwith
searching for the Defender.
I said calmly to the future myth
“I am the blacksmith.”