Theodore Marmaduke, who was death’s Puppet, caused a Prince to pause
At his false female form. The Prince foresaw that Marmaduke was fit
And had good, graceful character To create a sense of gaudy gluttony.
This Prince was an Egyptian Imam Who had great Emeritus in his kingdom.
Theodore had sinned, With murderous slander
When he captivated the Imam. The Prince “consoled” Marmaduke
And so therefore took him into The towering kingdoms of golden steeples.
For, Theodore Marmaduke was under Assault by a Great King, unaware
That the Imam’s palaces would pour Down their golden palisades into clear, streams
When the Great King Killed his kingdom’s crews.
Theodore Marmaduke had tried To kill the Great King’s friend, Bromdun
So the Great King embarked on an emissary To draw Marmaduke out of the castle.
The Great King sent word, “Give me Theodore Marmaduke, and I will spare thise.”
But the Imam did not, but rather sent shafts Shot down, skewering the front ranks.
The Great King, knowing this meant war, Took siege engines of brass and knocked
Upon the golden palisades of the Imam’s walls. Great fires poured from the dropped
Gates of the siege towers, turning The golden palisades to rainbow torrents
Of clear, streaming golden waters. Men on the palisades waked through the mortar
Their flesh melting from the streams Of liquid gold molten, flowing to the streets
Where men, as it cooled Could be seen, arms mixed in like straw.
The war of the American revolution Retained its great and hearty revolt
But now Bromdun had an ally Unknown to him, for all was going well.
The Imam heard word that his walls were Wallowing in their golden streamed wakes
That his men, in the cooled gold Were but fleshstraw in hardened gold mortar.
The Great King took the Capital of the city, Looked for Marmaduke that crass
Cutthroat killer, but could find Him not. Yet, armies held on the hills
For a reserve force hidden in the hills Ran in with great rain of cavalries’ hooves
For the Imam’s glory. Horsemen glade Over the hill country, and into river gullies.
The Great King withdrew his halberds So forced his general to haul into enemy spears
On a small number of horsemen. Horrified, the Great King made a retreat
For the rustic palaces were taken, The women in the kingdom ravaged
But the Great King had wasted his Force at the gates, when the hooves harrowed
Great and numerous foes’ foray By the feet of burnished cavalry.
The Great King lost general and crew So withdrew in great retreat, languishing.
He held in the barracks, broken As Theodore Marmaduke escaped boldly.
For, Bromdun was not Beowulf, But was good nonetheless. Brazen
He thought himself a prophet, But proved to be only a man persuaded
By his love for peace and prosperity. Every word Bromdun spoke was for peace
To prevent war, yet the Great King provoked Conflict at Egypt’s walls, wasted
Were the forces spent, stark naked were they When they strode off into the sticks.
Theodore Marmaduke was giddy with glee When the Great King’s forces gave way
To the Numidian Calvary in great numbers Gnawing away at the Phalanx of America.
For, if they had not engaged the general Against the Phalanxes of Numidian enclave
The general’s horses would not have waned In battle to flight, so therefore jut him
Off his steed. His steed broken and bloody. Bruised, the forces fled golden palisades.
B. K. Neifert 