Sword Dance

Steel rings on steel
The dance has begun
Movement without thought
A chess piece moved
By its own hand

Blades as bright as lightning
Blur and seek
Anothers life
Without spilling blood
The only sound of steel and breathing

Beat and parry
Slash and cut
You move the sword
And the sword moves you
It comes without worry

Too slow the shield moves
The starry blade slams home
Sparks and metallic shriek
The helm cloven deep
Proofed does not mean proof

Agony turns to rage
Knowing your life taken
A flurry of blinding speed
The point rips through
Links of chain his life also taken