Once upon a time, in a land far away,
There stood a grand castle, majestic and grey,
With walls that were high and towers so tall,
It was protected from invaders who'd try to breach the wall.

The drawbridge lowered, creaking and slow,
As the knights rode in, ready to go,
Through the barbette, they marched with pride,
To the citadel, where they would reside.

Inside the castle, there were many a sight,
Bastions and bunkers, to keep the enemies from sight,
And the moat around, so deep and so wide,
A canal of water, where the boats could glide.

But even with all these defenses in place,
The castle was not just a fortress of grace,
For within its walls, there was laughter and cheer,
A place where young kids could conquer their fear.

They'd draw pictures of knights and dragons and more,
Of battles and sieges and stories galore,
And they'd imagine themselves, brave and true,
Defenders of the castle, their duty to pursue.

And so, the castle stood proud and strong,
A place where the young could feel they belong,
With a drawbridge, barbette, citadel, and all,
A castle that stood tall, forever in thrall.

Reflections

1. What kind of things do you think the knights who lived in the castle did to protect it from invaders?
2. What is your favorite part of the castle, and why?
3. Have you ever drawn pictures of knights, dragons, or castles like the kids in the story? What do you like to draw?
4. What do you think it would be like to live in a castle like the one in the story?
5. Can you think of any other stories or movies that are set in a castle or have knights in them?