Pulling Accord

stars lined the tarp
as the rain soaked it through.
that bard's little harp
made for marvelous views.

it stood near a tavern
where he was up to no good--
singing ballads of caverns
when a knight promptly stood.

you must speak of the beast
that slaughtered my daughter
he hushed out the feast
was that cavern by water?

the bard only gave him a sad furtive frown
as he asked for the tale of his woe.
then offered to lead him straight out of town
so the beast would be beastly no more

hours went by in the rain and the night
not a man left the feast for an hour
that tavern was lit with flames awfully bright
for a time so darkened and dour

as the sun almost peeked over mountainous trees
so the bard burst right into the room
there was blood on his shoes and his face and his sleeves
like he'd been gorging his favorite fruit.

he told tales of his valiant heroics
to free the brave knight from its claws
how its wails could have pierced the most stoic
as the knight became caught in its jaws.

alas did the brave one so battle the beast
but the beast did the brave one in first
now father and daughter do both be deceased
to that monster's unquenchable thirst.

but miles away at the mouth of a cave
the sun shined on muddy red dew.
in the depths lay the grave of a knight and his babe
their throats split like harpstrings well-used.