Beheading

417  In the standing position he prepared to be struck,
418  bent forward, revealing a flash of green flesh
419  as he heaped his hair to the crown of his head,
420  the nape of his neck now naked and ready.
421  Gawain grips the axe and heaves it heavenwards,
422  plants his left foot firmly on the floor in front,
423  then swings it swiftly towards the bare skin.
424  The cleanness of the strike cleaved the spinal cord
425  and parted the fat and the flesh so far
426  that that bright steel blade took a bite from the floor.
427  The handsome head tumbles onto the earth
428  and the king's men kick it as it clatters past.
429  Blood gutters brightly against his green gown,
430  yet the man doesn't shudder or stagger or sink
431  but trudges towards them on those tree-trunk legs
432  and rummages around, reaches at their feet
433  and cops hold of his head and hoists it high,
434  and strides to his steed, snatches the bridle,
435  steps into the stirrup and swings into the saddle
436  still gripping his head by a handful of hair.
437  Then he settles himself in his seat with the ease
438  of a man unmarked, never mind being minus
439      his head!
440      And when he wheeled about
441      his bloody neck still bled.
442      His point was proved. The court
443      was deadened now with dread.

444  For that scalp and skull now swung from his fist;
445  towards the top table he turned the face
446  and it opened its eyelids, stared straight ahead
447  and spoke this speech, which you'll hear for yourselves:
448  ‘Sir Gawain, be wise enough to keep your word
449  and faithfully follow me until I'm found
450  as you vowed in this hall within hearing of these horsemen.
451  You're charged with getting to the green chapel,
452  to reap what you've sown. You'll rightfully receive
453  the justice you are due just as January dawns.
454  Men know my name as the green chapel knight
455  and even a fool couldn't fail to find me.
456  So come, or be called a coward for ever.’
457  With a tug of the reins he twisted around
458  and, head still in hand, galloped out of the hall,
459  so the hooves brought fire from the flame in the flint.
460  Which kingdom he came from they hadn't a clue,
461  no more than they knew where he made for next.
462      And then?
463      Well, with the green man gone
464      they laughed and grinned again.
465      And yet such goings on
466      were magic to those men.