William Tell Poem by Natarajan Ramaseshan

William Tell, the hero of the Swiss-
Bowman whose aim ne'er went amiss.

Far and wide spread his fame
The ruler Gessler hated his name.

William and his son lived together
The darling was all to his father.

Gessler, haughty, evil and mean
Oppressed people in his alien reign.

The tyrant had a plan so weird
Which was shameful and absurd.

In the market atop a pole
Hung his hat, broad and foul.

The passers-by were forced to bow
The wretched hat and stoop very low.

People loathed it -still obeyed
For the fear of being flayed.

William and his son one day
Went to market and passed that way.

'Proud William ', the soldiers said
'Bow the hat or lose your head'.

'Men are born to perish one day-
Let me with honour, die today.

The Lord alone my head shall bow
Won't you stop this stupid show? '

William thundered-the soldiers sped
Informed Gessler who flushed red.

'Bring him here', he ordered his band
'He has a lot to understand'

The lion with the cub went undaunted.
Pardon or mercy he ne'er wanted.

Deeply hurt, Gessler did employ
A cunning and a cruel ploy.

'Archer welcome! ' was his mock greet
'Here's a chance to show your feat.

Shoot an apple into two pieces
From a distance of twenty paces.

The boy shall stand there with the fruit
On his crown for you to shoot.

Prove your skill with bow and arrow
And fly away as a free sparrow'

William fumed with anger but
The lad asked him to accept that.

Sharpened arrows he took a pair
Placed one on bow and tucked the spare.

Like a lightning went the dart
And nicely ripped the fruit apart.

The gathered crowd screamed with joy-
'Long live, long live, father and boy! '

The shameless tyrant had to rue
But asked about the arrows two.

'Had the first one hit his head
The next would have left you dead'

The despot heard this with much dismay
Could do nothing -they walked away.

William's skill and the boy's courage
Have inspired us from age to age!