Ballad of the Lonesome Maid (A Children’s Ballad)

A maiden in a tower sat

and sadly stroked upon her cat

imprisoned in that awful tower

by an enchanters evil power.

 

But then a noble, handsome knight

heard of the lonesome maidens plight

and lifting up his long, bright blade

said, “I shall save that fair young maid”.

 

Oh poor young maiden, how she wept.

So long, in prison, she’d been kept;

so long that she’d begun to doubt

that she would ever be let out.

 

But galloping through day and night

came that young handsome, noble knight;

riding hard over hill and vale;

determined that he would not fail.

 

Oh poor young maiden, how she sighed;

so long she had been locked inside

that awful tower, dark and tall,

that she could see no hope at all.

 

But closer still rode that brave knight

until the tower came in sight

and, seeing it, he gave a cheer,

“Ha! Ha!”, he cried, “I’m almost there”.

 

Oh poor young maiden, how she sobbed;

so long, of freedom, she’d been robbed,

she doubted she’d ever be saved

by a young knight, handsome and brave.

 

But suddenly, she heard the sound

of hooves pounding across the ground

and, looking up, her heart took flight

for then she saw the noble knight.

 

“Oh joy”, she said, “Can it be true?

A knight has come to my rescue”.

“Oh Joy”, he said, as he saw her,

“I’ve never seen a maid more fair”.

 

But, suddenly, out of the cursed

ground round the tower, a beast burst;

a beast at least fifty feet high;

an angry glare within its eyes.

 

 

It was a dragon with dark scales

covering it from head to tail;

sharp claws on its fingers and toes

and a long horn upon its nose.

 

And from its mouth it breathed forth flame

which, at the noble knight, it aimed;

a fire as hot as fire could feel;

hot enough to melt hardened steel.

 

Fortunately, the knight did wield,

within his hand, a magic shield;

a shield that dragon fire could not

melt away, no matter how hot.

 

And so, onward, the knight did charge

against the fiery, fierce barrage

until, close to the beast, he lunged

and, in its heart, his sword did plunge.

 

Then, with a roar of fear and pain;

blood pouring from its heart like rain;

the wounded dragon, downward, fell;

crashed through the ground and back to hell.

 

Then, seeing the dragon destroyed;

the pretty maid wept tears of joy.

“Oh, hurry noble knight”, she cried,

“Break me free; take me for your bride”.

 

And so the knight leapt from his steed

And, towards the tower, did speed.

Three times, its door, he rammed and bashed

till, into splinters, it was smashed.

 

Then, racing up its spiral stairs;

he finally found his maiden fair.

They kissed and then the knight and she

lived ever after happily.