Rhalina

 Rhalina was a noble queen

In song & story has she been

She ruled a land both fair and free

Between the deserts and the sea

Her rule was wise and judgement swift

Patient ruler with ready gift

Justice steeled with sharpened sword

Vigilant against the foreign horde.

To merchants she gave markets new

Their lands bounty abroad she strew

Across turbulent sea and shifting sand

Good coin came to eager hand

For nobles she gave a partnership

To rule and protect with her leadership

To townsfolk plain and clergy too

She championed all and their bounty grew

Came crafty Negus with ardent suit

"Rule you with me and give the realm

Peace, plenty, strength and healing too

A line of heirs to steer future true."

But power does ambition seed,

And Negus too was swayed by greed

And reft with fear that he would lose

All that he had gained by strength and ruse

Security sought he from foreign kings

And began to dream of grander things

Soon tired he of the narrow straight

Of eighty-bond and marriage state

Like Solomon of old many wives he sought

To secure for longer the peace he'd bought

Foreign get he would engender

And gaud his throne with eastern splendour

Faithless he proved to his previous seed

Abandoned them to present need

Foresworn to his Queenly bride

He sought to cast her and them aside

But Rhalina will not yield or bend

Justice she sought and dishonour fend

Her rights no less than serf or lord

Strikes this not a righteous chord?

Unfurl'd her banner royal is,

A call to God, to arms, for right,

Will you not attend? Will you not fight?