King's Gray Shadow

He wandered through landscapes painted Green by forests and blue by lakes All the way of leagues ten and five Until he arrived during the fall of twilight Gathered the villagers around him To hear the sad news he had to bring "Three dawns ago in the land towards sunrise Was thy king slain in a battle at night" A gray cloud shadowed the hearts of men And flowing tears wet women's eyes Their king had gone to Tuonela Had his spirit among them died? Had it gone away with the flames That burned his warship - his grave The nightwinds had called his name The gods got another man brave Weeks after the funeral was seen a shadow gray Roaming in the woods of the eastern land Hiding in daytime then returning at night Haunting in the minds of the mortals who killed a king