The horsemen

After the flag juggling and the reading of a challenge,
two horsemen charged the effigy of a Saracen—
striking his shield with their lances. He, then,
rotated, threatening the horsemen with his heavy
whip armed with lead and leather balls.
The horseman disarmed lost all his points.
The horseman struck by the whip lost two points.
The horseman hitting the Saracen won
a double score. Then all the knights, soldiers,
musicians, valets, jugglers, and jousters assembled
for the presentation of the golden lance,
but none seemed immortal or free. I lay in some
violets for a while and luxuriated in the sun,
until shadows swallowed up everything.

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This article originally appeared in The New Criterion, Volume 39 Number 3, on page 29
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https://newcriterion.com/issues/2020/11/the-horsemen