It is not the sword

It is not the sword – Anon.

“It is not the sword,
     but the man,”
           said Merlyn.
           But the people demanded a sign—
     the sword forged by Waylund,
Excalibur, the “lightning-shard.”

“It is not the sword,
     but the words men follow.”
           Still, he set it in the stone
           —Excalibur, the sword of kings—
     and many a man did strive, and swore,
and many a man did moan.

But none could budge it from the stone.

“It is not the sword
     or the strength,”
           said Merlyn,
           “that makes a man a king,
     but the truth and the conviction
that ring in his iron word.”

“It is not the sword,”
     said Merlyn,
           crowd-jostled, marveling
           as Arthur drew forth Excalibur
     with never a gasp,
with never a word,
and so became their king.