Bendigeidfran*

The enemy destroyed the bridge.
The giant King lay down
so that his troops could cross 
– a kingly service done!

“To lead one must be willing
to be a bridge”, he said:
Lowly tasks sometimes fulfilling 
the needs of those well led.

Walked over, yes, but not a “walk-over”:
respect and honour for his word and rule.
So too good leaders serving are no “pushover”,
but he who “lords it” soon will lose his role.

*(pronunciation: Bendy-gayed-vran, with emphasis as usual on the penultimate syllable)

[IP:Could you  find a way to introduce a mythical character or story (from any part of the world) into an everyday occurance that you know well?]

Bendigeidfran (blessed Brân) was a giant King in a story in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi, the Welsh myths. I’m not familiar with many of these, but enjoyed, as a child. the story of Brân lying across the river, so that his army could walk across on him, because the Irish had destroyed the bridge to stop them (I think they were going to rescue his sister, and I think also there were no ships available).
He famously uttered the saying (in Welsh) ”A fo ben, bid bont.” When I learnt it, I puzzled at the proverb, which sounded nice and alliterative but seemed to be saying ‘If you have a head be willing to be a bridge’!
It is only today going back to this that I realised, and checked, that of course the meaning is/was ‘If you would be ruler( head) be willing to be a bridge (lowly service).