Echo, Dear Friend...

Echo, dear friend

I challenge you to a duel

Won’t you accept?

Or do you think me a fool?

You remember the last,

We’ll use the same rule:

You cannot use

What you know as a tool

Hold fast, my brother

You steel is cold

Your heart is stone

And your ways are old

You’re frighteningly quick

Draw blade, draw blood

My nerves they barely

Even realize your touch

Strong flips of wrist

Draw back, draw forth

Every move I make

You follow of course

Upstairs and down

Through court, through hall

Down through the garden

And then up against the wall

Your blade against mine

Like lovers they kiss

Or like trains they hit

Without smashing to bits

Flippant in

The most playful of games

Or grimacing

As the battles enrage

Until I’m pinned

With your sword at my heart

Your eyes on mine

Sweat dripping hard

Panting for breath

As silence ensues

The dust quietly settles

On the ground by our shoes

And without warning

You run me through

And I’m faced with what

I’d never thought I’d pursue

As blood runs red

I stand again

And repeat the lines

“Echo, dear friend”