A Legend Pursued
              I was sitting by the stream
              On a little pile of rocks.
              It must have been about
              Four by the clocks.

              The sun shone brilliantly
              As it often does in May.
              The flowers danced, the grasses waved-
              It was a glorious day.

              Suddenly I heard the music of hoofbeats
              Upon that tiny hill.
              I turned to look.
              It must have been his will

              That I see what I saw
              That very wondrous day.
              For nothing but a legend stood
              Among the flowers of the May.

              I saw a beast so white
              He made snow look black.
              Akin to a horse, he was,
              But no human bestrode his back.

              Oh, how his silver hoofs rang!
              Bells sang in the air.
              Large eyes, silver and free,
              Peered from under silver-white hair.

              His silken mane whipped in the wind.
              His neigh was soft as a summer breeze,
              But plainly spoke of terror.
              I could not fail to please

              The legend, the king of the forest, so rare.
              I didn't want him dead.
              I stroked the silky silver horn
              He bore upon his forehead.

              I breathed a soothing word, told him
              He could depend on me.
              He whickered low in thanks, and was gone-
              Terrified, but free.

              I heard the horses' hooves
              And the barking of the hounds.
              I hesitated, but braced myself.
              I would not back down.

              The leader of the hunt was blowing
              A brass hunting horn.
              He asked me if I'd seen
              Their quarry: a noble unicorn.

              I nodded and pointed in the opposite
              Direction from which the unicorn fled.
              They never caught him.
              I don't regret what I said.

              Can you imagine pursuing a legend
              Just to hack off his horn?
              No, I certainly don't regret the day
              I saved a unicorn.