Who are these young princes?
I have heard of their deeds.

Who are these young men
who stood their ground
when suddenly challenged?

I have heard it told.

“Prove yourself.
Throw yourself onto the ground.
The test will be of my own choosing”
declared the grown man.

The young princes were undaunted
as the grown man counted.
One, two, three.

The young princes were undaunted
as the grown man taunted.
Ten, ten, ten.

But though they were young,
they knew that the number which followed
ten was not ten, nor ten, nor ten.

It was eleven.

They began counting for themselves.
(Good for them.)

I wish I had seen.
I wish I had been there as they showed,
shoulder to shoulder,
how to overcome someone older,
if things become unfair.

I wish I had seen.
I wish I had been there as the boy named John
took his place beside his friend named Tobias,
shoulder to shoulder,
to overcome someone older
when things became unfair.

But I didn’t see.
I have to rely on the words of the legend
about the young princes who counted
themselves in.