Chivalry

“Castle and Moat”
Painting by Norman Wilkinson
From bbc.co.uk

oh for the days

of castle and moat

of knights errant

blue-steeled

in their armor

with values drawn

down from a code

ideal customs of

courage and courtesy

prowess and piety

honor and loyalty

warrior ethos put

lance and the sword

to the throats

of injustice

while minstrels

sang romance of

courtly love canons

polite with respect

for the women

they worshipped

oh for such days

were they real

did they ever exist

beyond sumptuous

lyrics of provenant

dewy eyed poets