Green - Beginning

I went to the hall of noble knights,
They who hold honor and glory their rights,
I went there with axe and with no ill intent,
To gaze, all awed, at those of beneficent bent
I stood in their courtyard, was hallooed and harassed,
I strode through the hallways, derided, outclassed
I towered in that throne room, no Round Equality seen;
They gasped and trembled at my emerald sheen
Wroth, I gave challenge, derisive in turn,
And I was proved right; ‘could no courage discern.
The king took my hatchet, manner most grim,
Then, o! Lo, then! Then up stood him.
The lord’s noble nephew, the pure and the true
He would take up what no other would do.
I greeted him sneering, for all my delight,
He took over my blade, swung with great might,
His expression of horror, so pale was his mien,
When away rolled my head, chopped off quite clean.
But nothing ‘twas to what followed next,
When up I bound headless, that token annexed!
I charged that knight to find my lair,
To receive my blow, if he would dare.
Then home I fled, with severed head,
To bide the year, ‘til the knight drew near...