Come, boy
Attend to your mistress

Throw open the chamber door
then seal it quietly behind again

Here, now
take this blade from my hand
and take care, boy
A twinge of fear at that parting
don’t let it touch the floor
and mind the blood

I’ll pretend to consider the sunset
through this window here
while you make it clean and sharp
for your mistress
again

On the stand, now
(a nod) over there
elevate the grip
make it ready for me
for the morning
then come

Come, boy
attend to your mistress

loosen these buckles
but don’t yet release me
stand at hand, boy, and hear
the number of names I don’t know
that I’ve slain
in the fields outside this house
this very day

No doubt they stink by now
worms and buzzards have to eat
but I’m not proud
feeding the fat earth
that gluttonous whore
She’s had enough to eat

First, these pterygyes
their flapping bothers me
now the belt…
is the door fast?
are you certain, boy?
mind your duties

Come, boy
attend to your mistress

take this weight from my shins
remove these boots
don’t mind the wool yet
only the gauntlets
you will oil all this well tonight
I’ll expect so tomorrow

Now the plate
carefully, quickly
there is a moment
when it blocks my sight
and I’m blind
never mind

Seal the window
light the lamp
and check the door again…
take the dagger from my belt
clean the blade, the clean weight
ready it for my hand
near the bed on the stand
now, then

Come, boy
attend to your mistress

Remove the cloth
show reverence, boy
and wash
while I trust
you won’t miss a spot
Is the door locked?
Where is the key?
oh mind you, boy, that key

Don’t tremble so now
only my enemies
should ever so tremble
there is nothing in you
that isn’t mine
doesn’t that comfort?

comb my hair now, boy
one hundred strokes, remember?
does it yet shine?
tomorrow we take Avalon
and I must present the proper vision
of hell at the gate

Come, boy
attend to your mistress

and never you mind
if I turn my face to your chest
and weep
for the only good thing
I have left to defend

[The most disturbing thing about this one? The Josey Wales homage here: " worms and buzzards have to eat". I have no idea why that's so important there but it is. My muse must be on crack or something.]