Rex Quondam, Rexque Futurus

Written by Wade R. DeYoung

For my son, Ryan Gareth

The King of Britain, Arthur ruled the realm.
By strength of sword and law, he steered the helm.
The King retrieved Excalibur from stone.
By Merlin’s hand trained, Arthur wrecked cyclones
Of dragons, giants, imps, Morgana’s might,
And Arthur proclaimed that might makes not right.
With knights in iron armor clad, the King
To Camelot did justice bear and bring.
To Guinevere the Fair was Arthur wed,
And slept with Guinevere in royal bed.
The Queen, barren of womb, could not child bear.
The King, invested by wing and prayer,
The Liege led Paladins of Table Round,
By Yahveh and Christ, were ordained and bound.
The dauntless knights of Arthur Regal fought.
For Christendom, the Grail Holy they sought.
The King commissioned Gawain, Lamerok,
As solid as Medusa’s gaze of rock.
Enlisted Gareth, Tristram, Percivale,
In name of Michael, did Arthur as well.
But greatest knight on Earth was Launcelot
In Arthur’s seat of power—Camelot.
Sir Launcelot by adultery fell
Like Satan, damned to fall from Heav’n to Hell.
The wizard Merlin was by Nyneve wracked.
To Morgan le Fay was Arthur enrapt.
As Galahad achieved Christ’s cup sacred,
The glory of Camelot soon faded.
Sir Mordred, born from Morgan’s seduction,
The knight triggered Camelot’s destruction.
Sir Mordred killed Arthur as Arthur slew
His bastard son—with sword did Arthur hew.
To Avalon’s mist and Hell their souls flew.

Other Works by Wade R. DeYoung Published by
Diagonals Literary Festival

Return to the Sea

About the Author

Wade R. DeYoung was born and raised in Michigan. After 28 years, he retired from the U.S. Army as a captain and served as an aircraft armament mechanic, a recruiter, an environmental science officer, and an entomologist. He has a B.A. in English (creative writing track) from the University of Central Florida (2025), an M.S. in public health (medical zoology track) from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (2015), and a B.S. in zoology from Michigan State University (1991). He has written numerous poems, short stories, and one novel. His poems have been published in 100subtexts, Fae Corps Inc Newsletter, Bewildering Stories, Children, Churches and Daddies (Scars Publications), and Diagonals Literary Festival.