Seven Hills
They built their town on verdant plains
with rolling slopes and rough terrain
They raised high walls around these hills
the walls are old yet stand there still
They loved their hills and named them well
the first one they called 'Shadowfell'
for there the mountain's shadow lay
when first their fathers came that way
The second they called 'Watcher's Height'
for those who count stars in the night
The third was named 'The Driest Peak',
a refuge from the flooding creek
The fourth and fifth were 'Night' and 'Day'
unlike they were in ev'ry way
The sixth and last was 'Vultures' Nest'
for there they lay their dead to rest
Around these hills their village sprawled
until it should be 'city' called
But though their wealth and power grew
one small thing marred contentment true
"Great Rome is built on seven hills,"
the God-birds sang in winsome trills;
"A six-hill town is not quite right
unless it gains just one more height."
The townsfolk then felt great despair
for one more hill just wasn't there
There WAS a rise off to the east
but that way dwelled the Fearsome Beast
They eyed that hill for many years
'til avarice threw down their fears
A seventh hill would ease their cares
A host marched forth to make it theirs
They met the Beast on bloody field
and many died but none would yield
until, at last, a mortal blow
was paid to Beast and laid him low
But though the foe was now deceased
a final curse pronounced the Beast:
the townsfolks' wish would now come true
but not the way they'd want it to
And so returned the troubled host
to find the thing they feared the most:
the rough Beast's curse had come to fall
upon the town that housed them all
The city had its seventh mount,
a cone be-topped with glowing fount
from which a flood of lava spills
to char and drown its brother hills
They raised high walls around these hills
the walls are old yet stand there still
But they are all that yet remains
Of seven hills with six hill names.
[Inspired by crisper]
with rolling slopes and rough terrain
They raised high walls around these hills
the walls are old yet stand there still
They loved their hills and named them well
the first one they called 'Shadowfell'
for there the mountain's shadow lay
when first their fathers came that way
The second they called 'Watcher's Height'
for those who count stars in the night
The third was named 'The Driest Peak',
a refuge from the flooding creek
The fourth and fifth were 'Night' and 'Day'
unlike they were in ev'ry way
The sixth and last was 'Vultures' Nest'
for there they lay their dead to rest
Around these hills their village sprawled
until it should be 'city' called
But though their wealth and power grew
one small thing marred contentment true
"Great Rome is built on seven hills,"
the God-birds sang in winsome trills;
"A six-hill town is not quite right
unless it gains just one more height."
The townsfolk then felt great despair
for one more hill just wasn't there
There WAS a rise off to the east
but that way dwelled the Fearsome Beast
They eyed that hill for many years
'til avarice threw down their fears
A seventh hill would ease their cares
A host marched forth to make it theirs
They met the Beast on bloody field
and many died but none would yield
until, at last, a mortal blow
was paid to Beast and laid him low
But though the foe was now deceased
a final curse pronounced the Beast:
the townsfolks' wish would now come true
but not the way they'd want it to
And so returned the troubled host
to find the thing they feared the most:
the rough Beast's curse had come to fall
upon the town that housed them all
The city had its seventh mount,
a cone be-topped with glowing fount
from which a flood of lava spills
to char and drown its brother hills
They raised high walls around these hills
the walls are old yet stand there still
But they are all that yet remains
Of seven hills with six hill names.
[Inspired by crisper]