The pommel is brass wire bound <br /> and finished with a silver boss. <br />The bright steel blade is hollow ground <br /> and with the pommel formed a cross. <br /> <br />A sword fit for a Christian knight. <br />A simple but efficient tool <br />or a young man who’d sworn to fight <br />to overturn the Paynim’s rule. <br /> <br />Though now held by the Saracen <br />the holy land was Christian. <br />A dedicated band of men <br />have vowed to win it back again. <br /> <br />Young hopefuls flocked to the crusade <br />in search of fortune and of fame. <br />Each one dependent on his blade <br /> to survive and make his name. <br /> <br />My ancestor went and he returned <br /> an older and a wiser man. <br />Passed on the lessons he had learned <br /> and that is where this tale began. <br /> <br />His sword has been handed on <br /> for many generations now. <br />From eldest son to eldest son <br /> and very proudly kept on show. <br /> <br />It hangs above my fireplace <br />beside its scabbard free from rust. <br />Both are protected by a case <br />We take precautions ‘Cos we must <br /> <br />Ensure that it is safely kept <br />until it passes to my son. <br />A duty eldest sons accept. <br />They have no choice it must be done. <br /> <br />A thousand years of history <br /> contained in one crusaders sword. <br />The young knights motto plain to see <br />but hard to read: I keep my word. <br /> <br />27-Feb-07<br /><br />ivor .e hogg<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-keep-my-word-story-poem/
