The Ne'er King

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A Poem by Rick Puetter

What is Man without purpose? -- To my Father

License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported. Author: Hgrobe. The original image has been modified. The original can be seen at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Senufo-mask_hg.jpg

The Ne’er King

Not just about Kings...

Ne'er from legends of past sorrows,

Find we deeds that song may borrow

No righted wrongs of yesterday

Or how the Ne'er King loved or slayed

Most meager, He, among the meek

And when He died no tear wet cheek

No dauntless gaze came from His eyes

Ne'er hint of danger shook His thighs

His name not set in memory

Not history, nor family!

Ne'er were His deeds set down in books

And from His rage no monster shook

Ne'er fought He fiend in fetid fen

Or poured He passion from His pen

Ne'er He for honor or for fame

Lifted sword, His heart in flame

He had sweet breath and winning looks

But for hard works no time He took

His soul held naught but poverty

Ne'er in His name was majesty

Oh think, what purpose His life filled?

No victory sought, no dragon killed

Had He no course or any plan?

Then He ne'er King, ne'er He a man.

© 2009 Rick Puetter

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Author's Note

I am especially indebted to my friends Legion and Mark for pointing out the weakness in the last stanza of prior versions of this poem. Initially I disagreed with your assessment, but after due consideration I could only admit that you both were right. The new ending is very much stronger and I have both of you to thank for pushing me in this direction. Thanks, my friends!

Additional thanks go to Meredith Greene for helping me tone down the number of occurances of \"ne\'er\" in the piece. Ne\'er it be said I don\'t listen to my critics and follow their suggestions especially when they are so on the mark. Thanks, Meredith.

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Featured Review

Legion

I like this piece, but I think the last stanza really needs some work. Doesn't seem to really fit with the rest of the piece. Also, fix the last line of the second stanza. Should be "his" not "this". Reminds me a bit of "Ozymandius" by Percy Byce Shelley.

As for what is man without purpose? Ne'er much more than a monkey without meaning.