The Poetry of DJ Tyrer

Old Heroes

The last great hero

Legend overtaking life

Naught but a shadow

Yet can wield his magic sword

Embraces one final quest

Adventuring Party

Down in the dungeon, in the deep and dark

Adventurers are resting, recovering from the fight

The bard begins playing, of terrors making light

Down in the dungeon, they’ll surely have a lark

Things are really swinging, the bard is in full song

The fighters are up and dancing, the cleric as well

The barbarian is yodelling, though none will ever tell

And the thief is laughing, to see the wizard in the throng

Yes, this party of adventurers, this party in full flow

Doesn’t realise things are creeping, attracted by the sound

Orcs and goblins and oozes, and other things from underground

And then the monsters burst in, keen to join the show

No, it’s not an ambush, they really want to join in

Appreciating the music, there’s so very little down here

Enjoying the company, no more reason for hate and fear

An epic adventuring party, a definitive win-win

And, when it all was over, the two sides had to part

For pretty soon the fighting, was due once more to start

Sir Blodry and The Brownie

Sir Blodry, a brave hero of Camelot, he

Set out to ride from sea to sea

To battle against all adversity

At least, that was what he told

Good King Arthur, who thought him bold

When, really, adventure left him cold

For Blodry preferred the warmth of the hall

And had never heard glory’s siren call

Not wanting to risk life and limb at all

So while he rode out upon a quest

It was not one intended his mettle to test

But one far closer to taking a rest

As he stayed in taverns and wayside inns

In one of which, our story begins

Sir Blodry was dining on fine roast quail

And quaffing copiously the barkeep’s ale

When past his ear a plate did sail

“What’s this?” cried Sir Blodry in surprise

A small hairy figure appeared before his eyes

With plates to hand for a few more tries

“I’m a brownie, and thanks to you,

I’ll have ten times the chores I usually do

And that’s something I’ll make you rue!”

Now Blodry was not one to delight

In the prospect of a fight

Even with a fairy of limited height

And so he said, “O pish! O tosh!

If you’ll dry, I’ll gladly wash.”

Happily, Sir Blodry did every task

That the brownie did so ask

For after all, while glory’s fine

He’d much rather live to enjoy his wine

More of DJ Tyrer's Poetry can be found in our Winter 2025 issue and one of his short stories will be featured in our Summer 2025 issue. Art by

About the Author:

DJ Tyrer is the person behind Atlantean Publishing, editor of View From Atlantis, and has been published in Gargoylicon, Lycanthropicon, and Vampiricon, and issues of Enchanted Conversation, The Horrorzine, Journ-E, Lovecraftiana, Scifaikuest, Sirens Call, Star*Line, and Tigershark.

Find out more: djtyrer.blogspot.co.uk