Odes of a Drunken Ranger

The Hunt -

As the snow filters through the trees.
I wait, my wolf silent beside me smells the air.
Those I seek are near I can feel them.
Suddenly the ground explodes near me.
The elementalist having spied my position.
A well placed arrow and he is down.
Now the battle is is full bloom.
The wolf is panting waiting to be released.
"Go have your fun."
And she is off like an arrow from my bow.
The enemy never sees her as the snow covers her approach.
Moments later the screams echo through the valley.


Touch of an Angel -

As the darkness closes in, I wonder if this is really the end?
As I fade from the battle that has gripped me this day,
I look for things that I have heard of in tales from hardened warriors.
I see none of these things, no welcoming angels, no trumpets heralding my victories,
the darkness is cold, and it's embrace is not the welcome I thought I would receive.
Then I hear a voice, "Come back....your time is not now."
Confused I struggle in the darkness, I know she is there calling out to me, but I can't find her.
As I slowly begin to lose hope, I hear her sweet voice again, and a touch on the cheek.
"Come back...your time is not now."
Then light bursts through the darkness! Blinding and warm the light wraps itself around me and I fall deep in to it's call.
I blink my eyes, the effects of the light wearing off, and see her face, and know that this faithful monk has rescued me. And a vow is made that will never fail.


My Bow, My Friend -

Seems I was born with this bow in my hand,
the callous' matched perfectly to the grip.
It has been my constant companinion,
and travelled the miles closely by my side.
It has soaked up blood, sweat and tears,
it knows my deepest fears and my greatest joys.
It never fails me and never complains
as I pull the string to near breaking and release.
The arrows fly true, the string sings it's song,
and death follows whereever it roams.


Fire and Flames -

The fire tickles around my finger tips as I prepare to join the fray.
Is it merely the excitement of the battle to come or the power that I control
that tingles deep inside my body?
I see my target in the distance and my pulse quickens and the flames build.
As the fire begins falling from the heavens and enemies begin to scream,
I feel the release of power with a mixture of joy and sadness.
But then before the feeling is totally gone it begins to build again,
and the ebb and flow of it takes me away until there is nothing left but silence on the field.


Death and Beauty -

She moves with the grace of a cat,
all shining armor, and whirling blade.
Where she goes, her enemies fall,
and fear spreads through the ranks.
She moves so quickly, she becomes a blur,
the only thing left in her path is destruction.
Unfearing she marches ever forward,
blade and shield and sweat and tears.
Yet this angel of light stops, and gazes at me,
a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye.
The she rushes headlong in to the fray,
but that smile stays with me.
The fight is done now, and my lady returns to my side.

Why Altimus, I do believe you have a romantic soul. Like the introspection.

very nice for sure

The cold chills to the bone, as I lie in wait,
The enemy is almost here, the object of my hate,
My Lady lies silent, next to me she stays,
Waiting for a chance to enter in the fray.

At last I see my target, still too far from me,
I itch to get this started, all my pain to release,
My Lady twitches next to me, eager to be free,
A pat a whisper, and she's gone silently.

The enemy is closer now, blade or bow to choose,
either will quickly take, what is his to lose,
These weapons of my work, always by my side,
I string the bow, and arrow ready for the coming fight.

My Lady bursts upon our foe, and drives him to his fate,
my arrow takes him in the chest, a release of all my hate,
he falls there in the snow, but is alive and breathing.
I pull my knife and head for him my memories still seething.

"You took my mom, and dad from me" I whisper to this one,
"You tried to take my brother too, but in that we won."
Now as my journey for this one, has taken me so far.
"I have no love for you, but hate you filthy charr."

As the sun breaks the horizon,
the world explodes in splendor,
for just awhile I sit on this hill,
and enjoy the sight.

It takes me back to happy times,
when I was carefree,
before the troubles and the war,
to a time a childlike wonder.

Just for awhile I'm a little kid again,
running in the rain,
and laughing hard,
no troubles, no pain, just free.

Nice poetry. Gotta love a man that can write poetry. :O)

A tale told over the fire,
that burns like a pyre,
in the tavern,
that I call home.

Of a man and a woman,
who traveled far and wide,
never seperate for long,
battling the tide.

The woman was a kind soul,
the man a hardened stone,
yet together the completed,
each other and were never alone.

The lady had a firey temper,
smoldering deep within,
yet it was her passions,
that always drew him in.

The man was a wanderer,
traveling far and wide,
but always returning to his lady,
ever at her side.

The two together were a sight,
as the they crossed the land,
the lady ever close,
to the one that was her man.

Again, very nicely done. I'm into exposition and dialogue. I love poetry but am not so good at it myself. Love it! More please!

A tale told over the fire,
that burns like a pyre,
in the tavern,
that I call home.



The dragon laid in it's slumber,
would it ever wake?
the country side was it's to plunder,
everything to take.

The knight was mighty and revered,
throughout all the land,
the villians of him were scared,
of his powerful hand.

The two it seemed were set to meet,
a battle for the ages,
the people gathered and took their seats,
to watch the combats rages.

The dragon angered by the man,
who woke it from it's sleep,
the man confident in his plan,
to send it to the deep.

The dragon thrust is mighty jaws,
the man he tried to dodge,
Deep into the dragon's maw,
the man became so lodged.

The dragon thrashed and writhed,
due to his prediciment,
The man inside his metal suit died,
because in half he bent.

The dragon floundered before too long,
his throat closed 'round the knight,
though they were once mighty and strong,
they both did lose this fight.

For in a fight with a monster,
that is bigger than a house,
even though you like your sword,
to it you are a but a mouse.

If you have to get too close though,
to the monster to stab,
remember that you are near enough,
with it's maw to grab.

So listen to this humble bard,
and this tale of woe,
if you ever fight a dragon,
make sure you bring a bow.

A tale told over the fire,
that burns like a pyre,
in the tavern,
that I call home.



Tis a tale that is as old as time,
of a love that could not be,
tis but a simple little rhyme,
hope it happens not to thee.

A man found himself alone,
looking for companionship,
into a bar near his home,
he did this one night slip.

The maid had smiled and winked at him,
he thought he had a chance,
though the chances were so thin,
if only they could dance.

He would impress her with his style,
his charm and style suceeding,
though he waited quite awhile,
before the courage of proceeding.

He watched the maid as she twirled,
a smile upon his face,
she filled the edges of his world,
with her beauty and her grace.

The man though never had the wit,
to tell the maid of his love,
but each night on a stool he'd sit,
and watch his angel from above.

The years they passed,
the both grew old,
each night the same as last,
the feelings never growing cold.

Til one day the man went to see his love,
in hopes that they would dance,
but she was not there in that abode,
he never got the chance.

His maid had taken ill in the night,
the man was soon told,
he couldn't help to break and cry,
and tremble as he was old.

Why had he never told the maid,
that his heart was hers,
it could have been easily said,
could he measure her worth?

Now he ran to her side,
hoping he was not to late,
could he upon this stinging tide,
his fear and pain abate?

He burst into her chamber fair,
and saw his angel lying,
so quiet and still he found her there,
evident that she was dying.

He collapsed upon her bedside,
and carressed her cheek,
she looked at him with eyes wide,
and struggled now to speak.

"My love, my man, my watcher far,
to dance for you was bliss,
please grant this wish to me m'dear,
and give to me a kiss."

The tears streamed down the old mans face,
and he bent as in a trance,
how could it come to this place,
why had he never asked her to dance?

Together they sat upon her bed,
holding hand in hand,
"stay with me love, for a moment" he said,
them summoned up a band.

The band played the song that made her smile,
the man held out his hand,
waiting for a little while,
for her to join his dance.

But the lady was quite old and could only cry,
that the man had waited quite so long,
yet never told her why,
this was their special song.

The man watched as she breathed her last,
and was from him taken,
he looked back through his past,
and hoped he would awaken.

With eyes closed as tears streamed down,
the man began to dance,
a smile slowly replaced his frown,
it appeared he was entranced.

But in his mind he saw his maid,
and together they twirled,
he too fell there dead,
no longer in this world.

And now the two share a stage,
as big as the starry sky,
a song written on a page,
a melody gone by.

Together they dance her and him,
and hold each other tight,
the dance it never ends for them,
but goes throughout the night.

Very very nice! I loved them both. First was funny, second was meloncholy. Nicely done! I enjoyed them both very much.

In the past,
we shared many things,
hopes, dreams, visions of the future.

In the past,
we were as one,
an embrace, a hug, a kiss.

In the past,
we had forever,
time to dream, and plan.

In the present,
We have moved on,
different hopes, dreams and visions.

In the present,
we share ourselves,
with others in our dreams.

In the future,
The future is mine,
it will not be with you.

In the future,
I will not be captured by the past,
and held a prisoner in my present.

In the future,
you are not there,
and I have my present dreams.

Very nicely done again. Keep writing!

You call to me softly,
with your amber glow,
you stay with me always,
even when I must go.

You beckon to me,
with your golden shine,
drawing me back to you,
with each and every rhyme.

You are my friend,
my dark companion,
you fill me with joy,
and careless abandon.

Oh tankard of ale,
from the vat you are pored,
all the flavors and tastes,
I could never grow bored.

I haven't drank in 23 years, but I can still appreciate a good poem. Good work! :O)

In the forest,
I was going through,
I came upon
a dipper do.

The dipper do,
with fangs so sharp,
surprised me and,
pulled out a harp.

If you can sing,
better than I,
This pot of gold,
will be thine.

The dipper do,
then sung a song,
a pretty ditty,
nice and long.

A beautiful sound,
came from his harp,
as I made sure,
my sword was sharp.

I had a plan,
a good one too,
to stab this one,
this dipper do.

I could neither play,
nor could I sing,
but I could stab,
this playful thing.

This pot of gold,
would soon be mine,
but this dippers,
face did shine.

When he was done,
of himself so proud,
he bowed and waved,
like to a crowd.

I had readied myself,
to run him through,
but how could I hurt,
this dipper do.

I picked up the harp,
and plucked it mild,
the sound that came,
eerie and wild.

I tried to sing,
a bawdy tune,
a tale of love,
and nights and moon.

The dipper do,
transfixed he stood,
as I wailed,
across the wood.

At long last,
my song did end,
the dipper do,
he called me friend.

Friend of mine,
the dipper do said,
that song,
could surely wake the dead.

But you tried,
you gave it your all,
you listened,
to the old dippers calls.

So for you,
I have a gift,
at this his pot,
he did lift.

Pick out a coin,
but only one,
and it shall be yours,
oh honorable one.

In the pot,
I reached my hand,
and felt inside,
a golden band.

The dipper do,
he saw my eyes,
and grinned,
at my surprise.

I had no idea,
when a dipper do,
sings a song,
and smiles at you.

In Dipper Do law,
and though protest I tried,
I had become unwittingly,
a dipper do's new bride.

This will not work,
it cannot be,
how could this dipper,
marry me.

But it's not as bad,
as it could be,
a dipper's life,
is good for me.

I cook the food,
the hut I clean,
the dipper do,
is never mean.

So if a dipper,
you come across,
run screaming from him,
for fear of loss.

Typo: Verse 3, Line 12.


But what a brilliant poem. Parts of that really struck a cord with me, very well done. Infact, I'm book marking that post, it really is brilliant.
Well done indeed.

Thanks for reading!

Excellent Alt! Very nice read. Kudos!

What can I say? Another SUBERB poem, my friend. I like the fun-loving, lilting cadence of it.

And I don't think that's a typo, Elfen, if you're referring to the word: THINE. It is a word, an old one, ...

thine   /ðaɪn/ Show Spelled
[thahyn] Show IPA

–pronoun
1. the possessive case of thou used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun.
2. the possessive case of thou used as an attributive adjective before a noun beginning with a vowel or vowel sound: thine eyes; thine honor. Compare thy.
3. that which belongs to thee: Thine is the power and the glory.

The cold it grips my soul,
I miss my friends and my lover old,
but I must press forward and complete
the task that has been set before me.

My bones ache from the longing,
to be with you again,
to hold you in my arms,
as we dream the pain away.

But that is not the destiny,
that is laid out before me,
not at this time, in this place,
there is no way we can be.

We are so far apart,
though we seem together,
you are in a place that I,
can never be, I cannot attain.

My friends my love,
so far away from me now,
I reach out, to try to see you,
but you are just a blur in the horizon,

Why did we end up where we are,
so far apart and yet so close.
You are my heart, my reason,
to live, my joy, my pain, my all.

But you are not here,
you are gone, and I am alone.
But I will hold my memories,
and my dreams where you are mine.

Nicely done! Once again :O)

Why do we do this?
Play this little game?
Wrapped around your finger,
yet you don't see me there.

Dance around the subject,
play around the sides,
I long to hold your hand,
yet you ignore me here.

Do anything for you,
give you all that I have,
But you walk right by,
like I'm not even there.

When did I become invisible,
why can you not see?
You are my world, my moon,
but to you I am not here.

Just realized these have taken a sad turn.
I'll try to fix that.

We danced around the may pole,
we caressed beneath the moon,
we held each other tight,
as we watched the flowers bloom.

We walk the paths together,
never do we part,
my angel, my lover,
the beating of my heart.

The sun makes you shine,
like a brillant diamond band,
your smile it makes my heart,
race and beat again.

Together we can face,
whatever the world will bring,
we will beat the odds,
because my soul it sings.

Nicely done, as usual.
Nothing wrong with meloncholy, but hope is always good too! I think you have a nice mix here.

Twenty years ago,
I saw you standing there,
and my heart raced,
at your beauty.

Twenty years ago,
With the sun in your hair,
I couldn't think,
of the words to say.

Twenty years ago,
You were so pretty,
that I couldn't
catch my breath.

Twenty years ago,
I longed to hold,
your hand in mine,
and feel the warmth.

Twenty years ago,
all I wanted was,
a kiss from your lips,
and I'd be in heaven.

Twenty years ago,
A thought of you,
would send my heart racing,
and pounding in my chest.

Twenty years later,
I find that you,
always felt,
the same as me.

Twenty years later,
we have gone down,
our seperate paths,
the journey apart.

Twenty years later,
I heard the words,
that I wished I had heard,
standing in the grass,

Twenty years ago.

Why do you think that I would,
want to be with you,
you are but a distraction to me,
until my heart is whole.

I say the words and makes the motions,
too many times I've played this game,
and walked the walk down the path,
that leads to temptation.

But now I turn and run away,
this game I can no longer play,
the words they come, but are they mine?
or some fantasy you have given me?

Do the words have meaning,
do they hold truth? or honor? or goodness?
I think not, but I can't stop myself,
from saying them to you over and over again.

Why do we dance this dance we do?
when we both know that this is nothing new,
an old wound that we continue to pick,
until the blood flows freely and the pain is strong.

Yet here we are again in this dance we've made
this circle that we continue to trudge through
the words the emotions so raw and fresh
yet they hold no weight in the world we live.

You romantic sould, you!

I remember the way the sun
shines down on you alone,
I remember the way the the wind,
would flow around your skin.

I remember the way the moon,
shines in your eyes,
I remember the way the stars,
wish they could shine like your smile.

I remember the way you feel,
under my fingertips,
I remember the way you taste,
upon my lips.

Where did the time go,
how did it flee?
I was with you one day,
and you were gone.

I remember thinking of your,
smile as I lay in the dark,
How you would fill my senses,
whenever you were near.

If only I had the nerves,
to say the words that I was thinking,
instead of being scared that you,
were not thinking the same.

Yet here we are years gone by,
still I think of you and smile,
even though we can never see,
or touch each other again.

As the darkness closes around me,
my mind drifts to you across the distance.
I can smell you on the wind as it blows,
across the plains of separation.

I can feel you next to me,
and yet when I roll over you're gone.
In my mind we are still one,
and I never wake alone again.

As I lay in the dark and the cold,
I think of the memories we shared.
The life we lived, and the dreams,
the we made real together.

Yet in the darkness I am alone,
the cold is my friend, the emptiness,
my only companion, my true love,
but in the darkness, you are my light.

As I sit, and gaze upon my angel,
her blonde hair blazing in the sun,
I wonder to myself how this beauty,
could every be around one such as me.

She is the sun, the moon, the stars
all wrapped up and hung in the sky,
her wishes become my desires,
her desires become my missions in life.

I lay my soul open, it is hers to take,
I give myself fully to this one,
I will follow her until my steps in this world
come to an end, and then I'll watch over her.

A smile from her is all the treasure,
I will ever need in this world,
a kind word or a touch of her hand,
sends me to a heavenly place.

Very nice, keep them coming!

Darkness has fallen on the land,
The few brave have dared to stand,
to fight against the oppressors might,
and in this age to be a light.

A beacon that shines upon a hill,
mayhaps it's dimmed but shines still,
a merry band of brothers in arms,
keeping each other from all harms.

This group of friends through all trials,
though they are apart for awhile,
when once again each other they see,
it's like no time has passed in the 'tween.

For friends as close as fast as these,
do not often come into being,
more like family they have become,
brothers and sisters each and every one.

Nice ode to friends. I like it!

As the wind blows across the plain,
I remember your scent like a hint of rain,
the way that you moved in our time,
like a poet's very best rhyme.

The feel of you beside me,
lightened my load,
as we traveled together,
down this lifes road.

I can still feel you caress,
and hear your whispered words,
just a glimpse of you,
and my heart stirs.

What happened to our love,
why did we drift apart,
I thought you were my angel,
I know you were my heart.

You voice was like a drug,
that I couldn't escape,
to hear you laugh,
a long to embrace.

And yet you never knew,
for I had not the strength,
until it was too late,
and I was at arms length.

Know this though,
that I am yours,
if you ever need me,
just say the words.

Neither hell, nor it's minions
will keep me from you,
for even though you are not mine,
my heart is ever true.

Everyday I see a picture,
in my mind, it tells a tale,
that I cannot find, the words
to tell to you, my love.
Everyday I hear a word,
in my ears, that whispers
of my fears, that need
to be expressed, but cannot.
Everyday I taste, a remembered
touch of you, before the time
when I lost everything, to give
my love to, in a glance.
Everyday I feel an ache,
deep in my bones, that needs
to be forgiven, for the harshness
of my words, said to you
in the rain.

Everyday I hear the rain,
and it's echoes of the time,
when I should have said,
all the words that were needed,
but in my fear I lost,
the one thing that I loved,
because I told you...
in the rain.

More nice metaphors. You're turning into quite the poet! Nice stuff.

Thats impressive Alt some very deep poetry Nice work

We come together,
in this place,
to be completely,
alone.

We talk to each other,
as we gather,
yet all we say is,
silence.

The sly smile,
the playful words,
cover it all,
anger.

G'night my friends,
g'day my love,
until we meet again,
darkness.

Who knew you were such the poet ...good stuff as always buddy

Nice work as usual. You've been dark on us -- but very soulful.

The sun shines across the snow covered plain,
I look to the horizon for a glimpse of the warmth that I knew,
I take the first trudging step up the hill before me,
and try to reach my destination by nightfall.

The cold bores in to my soul and through my bones,
but the thoughts that burn in my mind carry me on,
One foot in front of the other small steps under my load,
a burden that I carry a weight pushing me into the mountain.

At least I reach the top of the mountain before me,
and the sun bathes me in it's warm embrace,
it fuels me to move even faster as I near my goal,
I see it now what I have been trying to reach I must go on.

I blink my eyes and the dream fades,
as the warmth of you next to me brings me fully awake,
it was you that I was trying to reach all this time,
but you were always right by my side.

i like that one, and its so true. sometimes we get so involved in "searching" for something, that we dont even realize its right in front of us, or even already in our grasp. very nice Alt!

Another home run. Soulful but romantic at the same time.

I lay my head,
and close my eyes,
the dream cannot take me,
soon enough.

For it is in the dream,
that you are here,
and I am not left,
to wander alone.

The dream is where I hold,
on to the thoughts of you,
even though the waking,
rips you away.

But in the dream,
you are here,
and I can feel you near,
until I wake again.

More Alty Poo! More! I miss you btw!

The rain washes clean,
the tears on my face,
as I think off all the time,
that we waste.
We sit and talk,
but nothing is said,
I replay the times
over in my head.
I can see you still,
when I close my eyes,
it is in my mind,
that you like to hide.

bump