The Death-Song of Conan the Cimmerian Read online

  The road was long and the road was hard,

  And the sky was cold and grey:

  The dead white moon was a frozen shard

  In the dim dawn of day:

  But thief and harlot, king and guard

  Warrior, wizard, knave and bard

  Rode with me all the way.

  The wind was sharp as a whetted knife

  As it blew from the wet salt seas;

  The storm wind stirred to a ghostly life

  The gaunt black skeletal trees:

  But I drank the foaming wine of life

  Wine of plunder and lust and strife

  Down to the bitter lees.

  A boy, from the savage north I came

  To cities of silk and sin.

  With torch and steel, in blood and flame,

  I won what a man may win:

  Aye, gambled and won at the Devil's game

  Splendor and glory and glittering flame

  And mocked at Death's skull-grin.

  And there were foemen to fight and slay

  And friends to love and trust:

  And crowns to conquer and toss away

  And lips to taste with lust:

  And songs to keep black nights at bay

  And wine to swill to the break of day

  What matter the end be dust?

  I've won my share of your gems and gold

  They crumble into clods:

  I've gorged on the best that life can hold:

  And the Devil take the odds:

  The grave is deep and the night is cold

  The world's a skull-full of stinking mould

  And I laugh at your little gods!

  The lean road slunk through a blasted land

  Where the earth was parched and black.

  But we were a merry, jesting band

  Who asked no easier track:

  Rogue and reaver and firebrand

  And life rode laughing at my right hand

  And Death rode at my back.

  The road was dusty and harsh and long

  Crom, but a man gets dry!

  I'm old and weary and Death is strong

  But flesh was born to die:

  Hai, Gods! But it was a merry throng

  Rode at my side with jest and song

  Under an empty sky.

  I've heard fat, cunning priestlings tell

  How damned souls writhe and moan:

  That paradise they can buy and sell

  For gold and gold alone:

  To the flames with scripture and priest as well

  I'll stride down the scarlet throat of hell

  And dice for the Devil's throne!

  I faced life boldly and unafraid

  Should I flinch as Death draws near?

  Life's but a game Death and I have played

  Many a wearisome year:

  Hai! to the gallant friends I made

  Slave and swordsman and lissome maid

  I begrudge no foot of the road I strayed

  The road which endeth HERE!

 

 

  Lin Carter, The Death-Song of Conan the Cimmerian

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