by Pam Verner

Once, a long, long time ago and just yesterday
There was this really good looking Knight
Whose skill with horses was legion throughout the land.
He knew he was stunning, and he was pretty full of himself.
One day he fell from his Horse and nearly died.
He blamed it on his Horse, hurling accusations
Like balls of fire, throughout the lineage of all horses.
Horse cried tears of grief for Knight’s loss of soul.
From sunset to sunrise, and from sunrise to sunset,
Knight did not sleep so fearful was he of falling.
Horse whispered into Knight’s heart by day and by night,
“You must learn what women want.”
The handsome young Knight argued with Horse
And continued to fall. And fall.
But Horse so loved the Knight that Horse continued to speak.
“You must learn what women want.”
And then one day, Knight did decide
To honor Horse and enter The Quest,
To learn, indeed, what women want.
Horse wept tears of joy.
Far and wide and everywhere, Knight did ride
Searching for someone,
Anyone, anywhere, anything
To tell him what women do, indeed, want.
By day and by night
Horse whispered into Knight’s heart,
“Trust deeply within your heart
To know The One Who Knows.”

And so the Knight learned silence—-
The listening for whispers
From his very own beating heart.
Horse smiled with love and gratitude.
And then one evening nearing sunset,
Far, far off into the forest,
Walking slowly between the trees upon the ancient forest floor,
Knight sees The One Who Knows.
Horse knows too, and nods in agreement.
Galloping, Horse and Knight come closer to The One Who Knows.
But Knight is aghast as he gazes upon her.
The One Who Knows is an Old Hag.
“An Old Hag?!” Knight gasps to himself.
Horse hears, and grieves for Knight’s loss of soul.
“I am a Knight known throughout the land,” he cries to himself,
“An Old Hag teaching me?! Me?!”
Bent over, and slow. Scraggy white hair and wrinkled face.
Old Hag turns and gazes straight into Knight’s eyes.
Her ancient brown eyes pierce his very heart.
And he knows, for sure, she does, indeed, know what women want.
“I know you,” Old Hag slowly says with her crackling voice.
Pointing to Knight with her crooked bony finger,
“You need to know what women want.”
“I do,” says Knight, feeling fear deep within his very heart.
“I know what women want,” says Old Hag.
Knight knows his life depends upon the answer.
“Tell me and I’ll be on my way,” he pleads.
“Oh, but you must marry me to know,” says Old Hag.
“What!?” Knight gasps out loud for Old Hag and all the forest to hear.
“I’m a Knight. I’m handsome. I do great things!”
“Me, marry you, an Old Hag?!”
“Surely you must be kidding.”

“Ahhhh,” says Old Hag, her voice crackling
Speaking from the ancient wisdom of the forest,
And from the love of all horses,
“You must marry me to know.”
“My very life depends upon knowing this, Old Hag,”
“And so I shall marry you,” says the Knight.
“Oh, but grand and handsome Knight,” she responds,
“You must marry me in a ceremony in the presence of your friends.”
“What!?! But I’m a Knight!”
“I’m young. I’m handsome. I can marry anyone!”
“Unless you marry me in public, you will not know the answer you seek.”
“I don’t believe I can do this, Old Hag,” he responds.
“So be it,” she says. “Then you shall never have the answer,
And you will continue to wander lifetimes without knowing.”
“How can you deny me when my very life depends upon this?” he asks.
“This is your journey, Knight. You have my final offer,” says Old Hag.
Knight decides for life, and agrees.
And so it came to be that Old Hag and Knight were wed
In a gracious ceremony, surrounded by orchids, roses, lilacs, and Horse
In the presence of all of Knight’s friends.
But Ego’s journey to Soul is not over
As Knight is soon to learn and as Old Hag is soon to show.
For guests, friends, orchids, roses, lilacs, the forest, and Horse to hear,
Old Hag says, “You must kiss me and take me to your wedding chamber.”
“You can’t be serious,” Knight whispers into her ear.
All present, even Horse, hold their breath, waiting for Knight’s response.
“But I’m a Knight,” he says loudly for all to hear, “I’m handsome,
“I’m young. I’ve done all you’ve asked. I’ve bid your call.”
“No, no, no,” she responds, pointing her ancient finger into his heart,
“Our wedding is not real until you take me into your wedding chamber.”
Knight knows his very life depends upon knowing what women want,
And so he agrees.

They enter Knight’s wedding chamber.
“Surely, you can’t be serious, Old Hag,” he says.
“Surely, Knight, I am,” she responds.
He knows his life depends upon this, and so he agrees.
They begin to make love.
Knight gazes at Old Hag,
Right before his eyes, she transforms into the most beautiful woman
He has ever seen.
“What’s happening? What’s with this?” Knight asks in confusion,
As his heart opens into an ancient deep love.
Incredulous at the beauty before him, he asks,
“Who are you? A beautiful woman or an Old Hag?”
She has one more test for Knight, so she says,
“You can have me like this by day, for all your friends to see,
Or, you can have me like this by night, for your eyes alone.
It is your choice.”
Knight, having learned a thing or two about women already, says,
“No. This choice is yours and yours alone to make.”
Their eyes meet. Their souls touch.
Horse weeps tears of joy.
“Well, then,” she says, “I choose to be like this
By day and by night,
For you now know what women want,
Sovereignty.”
And so it came to pass, a long, long time ago and just yesterday,
That Knight did learn to honor and to give sovereignty
To the Ancient Feminine Soul within his very own heart.
And all the horses, and orchids, roses, lilacs, and the forest
Did weep for joy for the love of all.