Beyond the Golden Stair

In long-forgotten land of ire
When dragons ruled the skies with fire
A knight so bold would venture there
Astride a handsome, gallant mare
To rescue a maiden with long flaxen hair
The lovely-voiced maiden with long flaxen hair

The wretched forest did hold no sway
or fear over knight that darkened day
but charge headlong did he instead
while still, no thought should fill his head
save reaching the maiden in tower o’ft dread
The small, lonely maiden in tower most dread

He came to black, unholy tower
Past the sunlight’s brilliant hour
for crossed he had, demon most foul
frightful beast, with head of an owl
They battled ‘til one was pierced through the bowels
The great creature lay dead, sword in its bowels

At destination, dismounting mare
the princely knight calls “Let down your hair!”
A golden braid is lowed down
slowly toward the wooded ground
To brave, gallant knight with hardly a sound
Who climbed up bleak tower with ne’er a sound

His quest ends now, at tall tower’s spire
for maiden’s hand, through forest most dire
And there, at last, he swelled with pride
since she was here to be his bride
But didn’t know, that lovely maiden beside
would plunge pretty hand so deeply in his side

She extracts his immortal soul
leaving naught but grim, bleeding hole
Magically destroying body there
as ashes scattered in the air
Devouring soul, she smirks without care
“Only fools lust for demons with long flaxen hair.”