Villagers scurry like ants at
the howl of the chimera
and the griffon’s call.
Nowhere to hide from the hydra,
the centaur, or the dragon.
Man-eaters one and all.

One man alone will stand his ground
and, like a mountain,
bars the way.
The stance, the face, the attitude.
All say he fears nothing but fear.
…
We visited his grave today.