Scaling the Tower, a medieval romance reimagined

I felt free up in my penthouse.

Then you began your conquering drive. 

You called it a chicken coup, a birdhouse. 

My senses were all on overdrive.

I was half-asleep, off-guard, 

but you with your trickery had a scheme 

to invade, starting from the courtyard. 

You and your charms made a formidable team.

You had tracked me down, 

using terrestial - and celestial means. 

Do I stay or leave town? 

My home was no longer my castle.

Smoke and burglar alarms hadn't worked. 

My security was betrayed. 

You advanced like a conquering horde. 

Was this real, or was I being played?

The lift was out of order; 

no sign of the maintenance crew. 

How had you climbed my tower? 

Like a peregrine falcon, you flew?

On the balconies you got a foothold. 

Super Woman! Spider Woman! 

You scaled the walls of my stronghold, 

the crowds below cheered you on.

I looked out from my belvedere. 

You must have used a side entrance. 

Lightning pierced the cloudy atmosphere. 

Our eyes met over the roof terrace fence.

Neighbours and strangers got out their phones, 

posted reels, even an action movie. 

I felt it more like vampires and gravestones, 

your biting kiss a fatal absurdity.

Karima Brooke, March 2026