The Knight – Repentant

So many dreams of greatness,
So much pride, – the quest, my
Badge of honour, worn jauntily.

Of all the battles won, obstacles
Overcome – this last, the swamp
Of knowledge, cost mightily.

Here I learned at last that winning
Cannot matter – the journey is
The prize, I failed miserably.

All the lessons I rejected
The repercussions I ignored
Trap me now, unrelenting.

At last I understand that
My bravery was foolhardiness;
My courtesy mere pandering;

My gallantry was lustfulness;
My honour – ostentation
And now I pay the price.

My limbs can’t fight the quicksand
Of squandered opportunity
And so I die…silently.