The Horseman in the Hollow

Trying to get into the Hollow,

 Being a Phantom, to it did I creep,

Knowing what waits behind its vail,

I get up close and take a good peek.

Of nothing dangerous do I see,

Yet knowing more lays in the lair,

I try another approach to gain

Such sight of things I must beware.

Great thickets such a maze do make,

I spin and crawl at every turn,

Drawing closer to the heart, I fear,

And inside, my soul begins to churn.

Yet I am Phantom, blue as night,

And boldy dost I forward tread,

For there are things I seek that I

 Will soon make sure are good as dead!

A gleaming light, it lances out,

And covering eyes, I watch approach

A massive stallion, dark as night,

And the one upon who I encroach.

His lantern shines from on the pommel,

And sweat doth glisten on both as they ride,

My prey, he is not inside as I hoped,

But worse, he is coming and now I must hide!

But as he draws nearer,  from under a bush,

My skin it does crawl from what I now see,

No head sits upon this man's massive frame,

But a pumpkin instead; Oh, how can this be?

The brambles split as the monster rode in,

And feeling emboldend, as well as quite muddy,

I watched him dismount, and take off his cloak,

Stabled his steed and entered his study.

How do I get in, I cried to myself,

For now he's away, tucked out of my sight.

I arose and ran fast, before much I missed,

Through the brambles I pushed and tore and gave fight.

I came to a window, black thoughts on my mind,

And looking on in, I suddenly gasped;

He had taken off his head--it sat there and shone,

And turned its gaze on me; I thought it my last!

But see me he didnt, as he drew out a book,

And began to take notes with a studious air.

Names was he writing, but why I knew not,

But I wanted to, now--oh, did I dare?

I found the doorway and silently crept

To where I could see the notes that I missed;

Clan Alphastrike it was, and turning he saw,

"Phantom Blue, there you are, the last on my list!"

And so as we sat, and dueled in the Hollow,

I realized just now as I played out my hand,

Despite the rumors I'd heard from the bridge,

The Headless Horseman wasnt such a bad man!

A Gift from Phantom Blue

Gavin McClements

October 31, 1997