Black Horn Unicorn

Black Horn Unicorn

Ears prick for any sounds, while his eyes search the ground
As men have gotten tricky as they wish him bound
Unlike others of his breed and stance
His horn is black as pitch worthy of any King’s crown

The first half of his life, was spent in frolic and dance
Learning the tales of his kind, leaving nothing to chance
Until at last his horn started to grow
Bewildered he fell upon the ground, pierced by the leaders lance

To them he was a curse, and would bring the huntsman’s bow
Leaving him there to die, his life’s blood would slowly flow
Turning the English Ivy red as it floated in the pool
Darkness came and covered him along with winters first snow

A gentle touch came in the night, a virgin woman breaking the rule
He could not rise or give to flight, as he was as gentle as a mule
What indignity he felt as she placed on his wounds some weeds
His wound flowed now very weak, making him feel the fool

Through that night and into the next, she gave his every need
He drank not water, or melted snow, but thick mead
Kept next to her warm skin, under a wool cloak
Sliding out from cradled head, she disappeared into the reeds

For a time he lay there until the wildness returned and away he broke
Running like the wind, his nostrils flaring free from an unknown yoke
Then familiar smells wafted in, slowing him to a trot
There they were his family and friends, while he stood alone by an oak

Playing the young romped and charged, while the eldest stayed rooted in spot
With a twist of his great head, the leader saw him leaving him caught
What to do, he wanted to join with those he already missed
Till his eyes traveled up that might horn, making his blood boil hot

Like an arrow he charged, his mane flowing, stopping as he stood in their midst
To his amazement, they all turned their backs acting as if he did not exist
Why he bellowed into the cold air
But not a word was passed his way, not even his mother kiss

Alone, all alone, his mind whirred and replayed again and again, certainly they cared?
They needed to be warned about the virgins power, but he was not able to share
If only that was the last he saw of them all
Unfortunately, he was to witness each and every one of them die without a prayer

Like a ghost he moved through the woods, hearing the gathering squall
Then one by one they found a virgin and into her lap they would crawl
Arrows flew straight and true
Killing them swift and deadly, each one would fall

The virgins would cry and some went insane with what they were forced to do
Each the bait for a unicorn tamed and smitten by their soft coos
They had the power of Mother Mary
Was the tale that was said, until the last one his own mother, was violently slew

No longer able to hide within his anguish, his anger was flung free he would not tarry
With his mighty black horn, he ripped their throats it really was quite scary
As the virgin sat, spattered and drenched
He was saved by a sprite, who flittered around his head like an ambivalent fairy

She led him away from the carnage and grief, his anger finally quenched
To a secret wood, where a gnome sat upon a jewel encrusted bench
You are the last, the end of our time
The gnome told of the fable listing him the one to end magic through jaws clenched

So in night I traveled long and far to warn the Elves, the Dwarves and all magical kind
It was now they had to prepare for the humans who are were in their prime
There would be no more unicorns too
Only murderous acts on those who practiced, an unspeakable crime

My sprite friend left me late one morning, leaving me there to brew
Her cold form lay on the moss, my last friend, one who was true
Covering her with the softest of grass
I left knowing my time was also at hand, this was the day I did not want to get through

My ears were filled with the calls of virgins, broken by the dives of the bass
I moved to the one voice I knew from years before, ignoring the others as I passed
She had grown rather old, but I knew her on sight
Shaking her head she revealed where they were, the Knights and Knaves wearing brass

I rose up on my hind legs and pawed at the air, showing  them no fright
Arrows were knocked and swords drawn each part of a sacred rite
As I flew to my maiden no longer so fair
Upon my back she jumped gripping my mane and away I ran with all my might

Finding ourselves winded and worn at a babbling brook, taking a moment to share
She stroked my quivering barrel and told of how I made her heart flare
No mere mortal man could hold her heart
Seeing me once more was her goal for life, and now that she did, she had not a care


Placing my head in her lap once more, I knew we had to finish what we long ago did start
Take it I murmured in a voice I did not know I had as I played out my part
With a saw she worked it back and forth
The pain was something new and in fear my eyes widened and began to dart

We stayed together as we did once upon a time, till morning where we prepared to head north
Feeling different not myself at all I looked at my skin now black and my hair curly and course
She smiled as she took my hand and led the way
No longer a unicorn, no longer a beast, I had become what I feared a human who took with force

That is how I lived out my life, we became married and I was no longer the prey
When our son was grown and ready for his fortune, we gave him that horn hidden in the hay
His wealth is untold, his fortunes many
However, for you it saddens me that you will never really see a living unicorn today