THE SHERWOOD CYCLE
BY MAGGIE
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There is no-one else
I am your unholy infidel
who will hold sway over all
the field.
You say there is this Robin Hood -
You say that I will beat him ...
Of course I will beat him
Is he not an English peasant?
He has never learned the lessons
I have learned -
He is no keeper of the Secrets;
You tell me he has a secret
of his own -
What can it be next to the
knowledge of the Hashishiyun?
You look at me
You smile ...
Oh, that is no smile -
There is no warmth in that silent
expression of mirth.
I must obey you ...
What will you do
when I win the day for you?
You will have your Silver Arrow
And I will have ...
What?
Your approval?
More food?
A girl?
My freedom?
Oh, if you but once gave me that ...
But I do not think you will -
I am only 'of use' to you;
When I am not,
you will kill me, I think.
You will not find it easy.
Like a dream
I saw you, suddenly there
in my room.
I would have been no more surprised
to see a young deer;
You reminded me of one.
And then you spoke
And I realised -
I knew.
Even as you left me,
You left me your eyes ...
Somehow, I would see you again.
I would see you again.
You promised
You promised me.
It isn't fair
That's not what I thought you meant -
I didn't know you were going to die.
How could you do that?
How could you do it to any of us?
You broke her heart, you know that?
You're my brother, and you broke your promise.
I know what you said
about being free for ever
About being here in Sherwood;
Where are you then?
I can't find you anywhere ...
I can't look anymore,
I'm too tired;
I don't know what to do
I don't know what to do.
* * *
I was always afraid
So I don't know if I could've died for you -
You never gave me the chance.
But I know I loved you.
I know you shouldn't have died -
You're needed here more than me;
I don't understand.
And I don't think I'm afraid anymore, either.
I don't think so.
I can't stay here and watch you
sink any further into their web
Will was right -
His High and Mightiness fooled you
He only cares
for Royal Glory
That won't feed England.
Whether he's here or gone,
it makes no difference;
he's no King.
He takes our money,
then he takes our blood
and scatters it like offerings of Gold
on foreign soil ... uncared for.
He'll take our souls;
Well ... He won't get mine.
Promise me, Robin, please -
Think again and promise me,
That he won't get yours.
The children came for food
they couldn't get at home
They came for stories that I could tell
because I'd been there
They came because people like Edward and Elisabeth
told them I'd be lonely
They came because
they didn't want to forget
They came in spite of their mothers' fears
and the danger
They came for the sake of Love:
Amor Vincit Omnia.
I stayed because the others did;
for awhile, anyway -
I stayed, though one by one
they went away -
I stayed because there was
nowhere else to go -
I stayed because the children came
and gave me heart -
I stayed because something held me there,
despite the danger -
I stayed for the sake of Love:
Amor Vincit Omnia.
You came to Sherwood to save us -
Drawn, sent; an arrow
You left in doubt and sadness.
You returned to Sherwood,
Driven by Love.
They left Sherwood in doubt and sadness.
You came to each of them as an arrow
they could not ignore
They returned, each from their own sleep, to you,
For the sake of Love:
Amor Vincit Omnia.
It seems Alan was right all along.
You wouldn't let me kill Gisburne
and those Brabancon swine;
I'm still here because someone has to tell you
when you're wrong.
I told you we were unlucky, but
you threw Tuck's life at me;
I left because I couldn't stay.
Even when I took their money, those Jews,
I knew it was like dying;
I stayed away because I couldn't face you.
But you wouldn't let go of me, would you?
You never do;
I came back because ... I wanted to live.
Your compassion is something
I should despise -
Your power over me, something
I should break -
Your kindness, something
I should ignore -
What am I doing?
I shouldn't trust you,
You're a dreamer ...
Why am I still here?
Because .....
It is a sword
You call it England
Long time before, it was made -
It came from the imagination
of John Wayland.
It is Light and Dark
You called it blind
To be used with care -
or not at all;
You said mine were good hands.
What is England, or Balance?
What does it mean?
Albion is inside,
My son;
You know it
Or you know it not.
It is an instinctive thing;
You call it justice.
It is some kind of Wisdom -
It does not come from law ...
It is a Law unto itself.
You would not call it law,
You would call it Love;
It is yourself.
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