The Paladin

Oh my lady with waves of red,
Thoughts of you race through my head. 
A heart of gold cloaked in snow, 
The fallen angel who lost your glow. 

Taken from you through devil’s rage, 
Soul entrapped in unyielding cage. 
Lured in by lover’s tender kiss, 
Betrayed by love in a secret tryst.

Driven by pain and drunken mourn,
Once again pricked by devil’s thorn. 
Lost in forced contract you await, 
To sow your sonnet and learn your fate. 

Crying out for savior come, 
Forever trapped in fate undone. 
Choices lost with chains now broken,
Regretting your path so long unspoken. 

Into the stars of distant light you stare,
Naked, afraid, all emotions laid bare. 
Dreaming of true love’s final tryst,
Until at last we feel the eternal kiss.

I am tasked to find this lost soul, 
God’s eternal angel with heart of gold.
Determined to face the devil’s rage, 
To free you from your unholy cage. 

My heart struck from Cupid’s bow,
Touched my soul in ways unknown. 
Across the galaxy of countless stars, 
I feel your pain from lands afar. 

Bravely into unknown future bold, 
Unwavering travels your tattered soul. 
The heart in haste you want to race, 
Longing to feel our love’s embrace. 

Plan for battle is what I must, 
To never lose my angel’s trust.
Freeing you from bonds of despair, 
You will soar brightly through the air. 

Into the endless void I stare, 
Dreaming of you, my lady fair.
Beside you in my heart this day, 
Inner demons banished and chased away. 

The light of you heals my darkened soul, 
Somehow done from words untold. 
I wish to have you and hold you dear, 
My heart yearns to have you near. 

Finding love from our written word, 
I long to free you, captured bird. 
Soaring higher than you thought you could, 
Achieving your dreams like I knew you would. 

This dark twisted game we must play, 
To mold our future like a lump of clay. 
Though we seem locked in darkened past,
Forever changing our future cast. 

From the ashes of pain our love has risen, 
Destined to free you from this dark prison. 
Face my fears I must this day, 
If you are ever to fly away. 

So endure we must my angel flower, 
Closer and closer approaching our final hour. 
Soon to bear the fruit of courageous seed, 
Gaining love and freedom of our souls in need.

On morning’s dawn you will awake, 
In loving warmth our souls partake. 
Then in lover’s arms you’ll finally know, 
I’ll warm the waves of red and melt the snow. 

Then with your eyes of emerald green, 
You’ll shine brighter you’ve ever been. 
Lighting the way of your future bold, 
What lies ahead is treasures untold. 

The cage is open, the dawn awaits
Your fear is lessened as it dissipates.
Replaced by courage and by peace, 
At last you’ll feel your freedom’s release. 

Tyler Stacy is a Colorado native, a father of three and a writer in disguise. Being involved in sports all his life has made him keep his writing a secret. In high school he was encouraged to enjoy literature where he developed a love of the classics, and in turn, writing. He was inspired to write this poem by his lady love, whom he recently married. Authors note: Dedicated to the love of my life, my wife and the light of my soul. I love you, Amber, in ways you’ll never know.