Arthur's Child

Inspired by The Grey King by Susan Cooper Five swans rode

On the wave of the lake

And five swans rode

On the air

I bid thee go

Where the land and the sea

Have left the

Boulders bare

She bore my child

And then she ran free

To warn the skies

And the air

But Arthur’s child

Of the land and the sea

Will learn how to

Forbear

Red is the blood

On the neck of the sheep

And white is the

Wool on the ewe

What powers may be

In those grey hills

That may yet

Speak to you?

I lay me down

And my burden as well

And bid this land

Adieu

For Arthur’s child

Has returned for his sword

And he is calling

You

In the wild

At the break of day

You look as if

You were to say

That all is fair

In love and war

But then what is all

This striving for?

I took my sword to

The top of the ridge

Where I could see

Free and clear

And there the dear Mother

Of Arthur’s

Child

Greeted me

Through her tears

watercolor and india ink on paper, 3"x3" detail of larger 12"x9" work