Robert E. Howard

“ As fierce fought battle as ever was waged by woman and man.
A test of strength and endurance till the roof began to spin,
And still he could not wear her down, and he would not give in.
They jazzed till the sun came up in the east, they jazzed till the sun went down
Their muscles cracked and their brows were set in a death-or-victory frown. ”

“ Our goblets banged on the table tops, our laughter rose in a gust.
And now and then a shot cracked out and someone kissed the dust.
It made a man right nervous, ducking the cutlass cuts,
And every so often someone yelled with a sword thrust through his guts. ”