Twisted Purity
#14 of Poems
This is a follow up to the previous poem Purest Heart. While unicorns are often portrayed as graceful, pure, magnificent creatures they are far from perfect. This ended up a bit sadder then I expected it too but still overall I'm pleased with it. This poem too will be included in my poetry book. It may or may not be changed later on.
Tales they tell of the great guardian who has fallen. A warrior not of man but of beast and forest and earth.
A stallion who was the mightiest of unicorns brought low by the tears of a humble queen.
Oh listen to the pleading cries of a queen who begs while her child dies.
Watch as the guardian of the forest refuses to listen and averts his eyes. For the hearts of men are filled with nothing but lies.
His eyes would not look upon her and his ears shut themselves to her voice.
For the stallion knew her child was wicked and would grow to be just as dark as his father.
But on and on the queen made her plea until the unicorn's heart was sore.
"Enough! I hear you! Please stop your tears! My heart can bear this no more."
Bowing his head to the desperate queen the unicorn gave her a chance.
"I will you give my horn, but only half its length. Until the boy comes of age. If he is pure in heart until then I will give him strength for the rest of his days."
"But if wickedness grows in his heart before then he will get nothing from me. Not strength. Not wisdom. Not a drop of mercy will he see."
So the unicorn vowed and the queen accepted his terms.
With that a mighty crack echoed throughout the trees as he split his great horn in two.
Broken in the middle and a paltry stump left to remain.
The queen sobbed a thank you through her tears grateful for the chance to end her son's pain.
Away the stallion ran. Into the forest with a heavy heart. For while he knew he had saved a child's life there was no telling what danger it would yet impart.
Years passed by and the queen ruled in place of the dead king bringing peace from all of his strife.
Every day she taught her son reminding him of the great beast who had spared his life.
But the boy's heart grew ever blacker with hatred at the foul creature who left him twisted.
Twisted in a body frail and weak. The mockery of everyone who speaks. His mind grew foul and his eyes grew dark.
For he wanted nothing more then to run a sword through the unicorn's heart.
What was the point of a body that could hardly bear his weight? Why had the stallion saved him at all if only to leave him to this wretched fate?
The queen's urges for patience fell but on deaf ears. Her promise of a body strong and able meant less and less across the years.
The boy had not learned his lesson. For the unicorn sought to teach him patience and kindness to those weakest in life.
Yet as the boy came of age his evil grew past all bounds. With the stroke of a sword he seized the throne and from his mother's dead fingers the crown.
With a roar of anger he sent out the command to every soldier and swordsman in the land.
A lifetime of gold and treasure beyond imagination. To the first person who brought him the remaining horn of the stallion.
Trees fell beneath their relentless advance. Pure springs fouled without even a glance.
Great forests burned to send beasts fleeing. All of the sake of unicorn. A single innocent being.
Green gave way to red as the countryside swam with fire. All for the sake of a man who had not discerned the unicorn's desire.
For what the unicorn feared had come true and with it a terrible price. For not only had the boy lost his way but the stallion too had lost his might.
A white coat that sparkled in the sun is now the deepest black.
Proud eyes that cared for all the forest now blaze red with rage, ready to attack.
The horn that once glistened like the finest pearl, now runs through with cracks that bleed a reddish glow.
For as the boy grew wicked so too his evil corrupted the stallion. For the unicorn could feel the burn of his hate and the suffering he inflicted on others and he agonized at his mistake.
If only he had given up his strength in its entirely and not its half. Then maybe things would have been different and the boy would have ruled in the people's behalf.
For by giving up half his horn the stallion did not give up his power but shared it. So both of them became connected in soul and in spirit.
The boy's darkness had infested the stallion like a disease until it drove him mad. His purity tainted by the darkness that lies within man.
His eyes bring the weakest of men to their knees.
His piercing scream can make the strongest of warriors beg for mercy.
Where flowers once grew beneath every step, now his hooves bring nothing more than relentless pain and death.
Trees wither at his passing. Water poisoned at his touch. The fairies silent in fear of being noticed by the one who once sang to them with such kindness and grace.
On and on the unicorn traveled. Relentless in his quest. For until the wicked boy was slain he could never have any rest.