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(Created page with "By: Mathonwy Posted on: 1st May 2018. The gods and I've an understanding: I shut my mouth and they ignore my grosser sins and quite longstanding lack of faith (which They ab...") |
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The gods and I've an understanding: | The gods and I've an understanding: | ||
I shut my mouth and they ignore | I shut my mouth and they ignore | ||
my grosser sins and quite longstanding | my grosser sins and quite longstanding | ||
lack of faith (which They abhor). | lack of faith (which They abhor). | ||
But here I would the Bard invoke | But here I would the Bard invoke | ||
(per custom of the common folk): | (per custom of the common folk): | ||
may quill not fail nor tongue misspeak, | may quill not fail nor tongue misspeak, | ||
nor rhyming couplets lose mystique -- | nor rhyming couplets lose mystique -- | ||
allow this poem's purpose to | allow this poem's purpose to | ||
fly straight on and hit the narrow | fly straight on and hit the narrow | ||
target, as a master arrow | target, as a master arrow | ||
from darkbow fired hits target true. | from darkbow fired hits target true. | ||
Scarlatti, guide my words as well | Scarlatti, guide my words as well | ||
as daemons torture down in Hell. | as daemons torture down in Hell. | ||
And Evil here is worth the mention, | And Evil here is worth the mention, | ||
and all that glitters isn't gold, | and all that glitters isn't gold, | ||
but one young serpent's apprehension | but one young serpent's apprehension | ||
rankles her -- her brow runs cold | rankles her -- her brow runs cold | ||
(though this she never would admit). | (though this she never would admit). | ||
Her strength is in her golden wit, | Her strength is in her golden wit, | ||
while opposite her, argent bright, | while opposite her, argent bright, | ||
shines the Dawnspear's Hand of Light. | shines the Dawnspear's Hand of Light. | ||
Now gold's the brighter, purer ore, | Now gold's the brighter, purer ore, | ||
but silver polished shines intense -- | but silver polished shines intense -- | ||
the Argent Hand here stands, immense, | the Argent Hand here stands, immense, | ||
worth less by ounce but weighing more. | worth less by ounce but weighing more. | ||
The golden serpent stands her ground, | The golden serpent stands her ground, | ||
though disadvantaged pound for pound. | though disadvantaged pound for pound. | ||
A flash of gold, a lucky toss, | A flash of gold, a lucky toss, | ||
and dextrous wit secures the place | and dextrous wit secures the place | ||
the fighting, dying, win or loss, | the fighting, dying, win or loss, | ||
the saving grace or saving face, | the saving grace or saving face, | ||
will soon transpire, soon commence | will soon transpire, soon commence | ||
before most all of Sapience. | before most all of Sapience. | ||
She hesitates -- then, manner steeled, | She hesitates -- then, manner steeled, | ||
she deigns to choose the geyser field. | she deigns to choose the geyser field. | ||
The hellish heat assaults the mind, | The hellish heat assaults the mind, | ||
and gold retains its shine in heat | and gold retains its shine in heat | ||
while silver flickers, incomplete -- | while silver flickers, incomplete -- | ||
but yet, the two are now resigned | but yet, the two are now resigned | ||
to skill, and all that skill can prove. | to skill, and all that skill can prove. | ||
The golden serpent makes her move. | The golden serpent makes her move. | ||
And in that heat, the gold reflects | And in that heat, the gold reflects | ||
the light as one quite brilliant beam, | the light as one quite brilliant beam, | ||
and shadows form as she directs | and shadows form as she directs | ||
that point of gold amidst the steam. | that point of gold amidst the steam. | ||
Yet here her golden wit has erred, | Yet here her golden wit has erred, | ||
for her opponent came prepared -- | for her opponent came prepared -- | ||
he's backed the Light for all his days | he's backed the Light for all his days | ||
and won't fall now before its ways. | and won't fall now before its ways. | ||
His falcon dives and draws her guard, | His falcon dives and draws her guard, | ||
while, sword in hand, he takes his aim | while, sword in hand, he takes his aim | ||
and lashes out and strikes her frame | and lashes out and strikes her frame | ||
and drives his shield at her throat hard. | and drives his shield at her throat hard. | ||
Wreathed in steam and crowned in light, | Wreathed in steam and crowned in light, | ||
he takes the first round of the fight. | he takes the first round of the fight. | ||
His second swing is for her head, | His second swing is for her head, | ||
but thinking fast, she draws her blade, | but thinking fast, she draws her blade, | ||
and, bleeding, spits the blood, light red, | and, bleeding, spits the blood, light red, | ||
into his face to win the trade. | into his face to win the trade. | ||
The Argent Hand, sure of his game, | The Argent Hand, sure of his game, | ||
now must swiftly fix his aim, | now must swiftly fix his aim, | ||
and in his blindness he adjusts | and in his blindness he adjusts | ||
as she with dagger aims her thrust. | as she with dagger aims her thrust. | ||
Sensing that the upper hand | Sensing that the upper hand | ||
was not yet hers, she redirects | was not yet hers, she redirects | ||
and rolls away, and he connects | and rolls away, and he connects | ||
with naught but air and then with land. | with naught but air and then with land. | ||
She moves behind a wall of spray | She moves behind a wall of spray | ||
as yet again he joins the fray. | as yet again he joins the fray. | ||
Now stepping lightly 'midst the cracks, | Now stepping lightly 'midst the cracks, | ||
she calculates -- through mist she bounds, | she calculates -- through mist she bounds, | ||
as in the air the falcon tracks | as in the air the falcon tracks | ||
her every movement on the ground. | her every movement on the ground. | ||
A venomed dagger now she grips, | A venomed dagger now she grips, | ||
and venomed fangs and venomed lips | and venomed fangs and venomed lips | ||
reflect the venom in her glare. | reflect the venom in her glare. | ||
Yet judging from his vacant stare | Yet judging from his vacant stare | ||
he's supplicating to his Gods -- | he's supplicating to his Gods -- | ||
he turns his focus from his source | he turns his focus from his source | ||
of strength and lashes out with force. | of strength and lashes out with force. | ||
Renewed of vigour, evening odds, | Renewed of vigour, evening odds, | ||
he takes his wound with poise and grace... | he takes his wound with poise and grace... | ||
and smashes her across the face. | and smashes her across the face. | ||
And from her lips arcs blood a-shine, | And from her lips arcs blood a-shine, | ||
as bright as Mhaldor's arms in gules. | as bright as Mhaldor's arms in gules. | ||
A loss at this stage could define | A loss at this stage could define | ||
her Western legacy in duels. | her Western legacy in duels. | ||
Seconds pass, but feel like years, | Seconds pass, but feel like years, | ||
and muted, distant, sound the cheers | and muted, distant, sound the cheers | ||
of Easterners now, growing bold, | of Easterners now, growing bold, | ||
who'd take the argent over gold. | who'd take the argent over gold. | ||
Her blood runs slowly -- losing strength -- | Her blood runs slowly -- losing strength -- | ||
frustration growing -- what to say -- | frustration growing -- what to say -- | ||
her chance at winning ebbs away -- | her chance at winning ebbs away -- | ||
humililation, drawn at length... | humililation, drawn at length... | ||
she musn't let her focus crack! | she musn't let her focus crack! | ||
She'd have to take a different tack. | She'd have to take a different tack. | ||
The old hymns now he starts reciting, | The old hymns now he starts reciting, | ||
his wounds are staunched, his movements fine. | his wounds are staunched, his movements fine. | ||
She moves now to evade the fighting, | She moves now to evade the fighting, | ||
but caught his shield deep in her spine. | but caught his shield deep in her spine. | ||
She limps away, a moment late, | She limps away, a moment late, | ||
to pause and to recuperate. | to pause and to recuperate. | ||
And from her wrist, a golden flash, | And from her wrist, a golden flash, | ||
and in her hand a golden lash | and in her hand a golden lash | ||
she slowly whirls with growing ardor. | she slowly whirls with growing ardor. | ||
And from the haze, a thunderclap | And from the haze, a thunderclap | ||
as 'round his neck the whip does wrap | as 'round his neck the whip does wrap | ||
and him she'd crown an argent martyr. | and him she'd crown an argent martyr. | ||
He lays a rite with fervent plea, | He lays a rite with fervent plea, | ||
and grabs the lash, and yanks it free. | and grabs the lash, and yanks it free. | ||
His platitudes drive her reprisal, | His platitudes drive her reprisal, | ||
yet as he charges, she stands still, | yet as he charges, she stands still, | ||
and closer still draws his arrival, | and closer still draws his arrival, | ||
as patiently she plans the kill. | as patiently she plans the kill. | ||
Implacable, he sets his stride, | Implacable, he sets his stride, | ||
yet she, aglimmer, steps aside | yet she, aglimmer, steps aside | ||
with all the grace of siren-song | with all the grace of siren-song | ||
(which, well-receiv'd by captive throng, | (which, well-receiv'd by captive throng, | ||
now begins to sing her praise) | now begins to sing her praise) | ||
and catches arm about his shoulder, | and catches arm about his shoulder, | ||
deliv'ring poison to the soldier. | deliv'ring poison to the soldier. | ||
His poise now shattered, eyes aglaze, | His poise now shattered, eyes aglaze, | ||
as now the crowd erupts with sound | as now the crowd erupts with sound | ||
and Argent Hand falls toward the ground. | and Argent Hand falls toward the ground. | ||
The crowd, comprising many factions, | The crowd, comprising many factions, | ||
forgets itself and roars its praise | forgets itself and roars its praise | ||
at this insurgent serpent's actions | at this insurgent serpent's actions | ||
and graceful and ensnaring ways: | and graceful and ensnaring ways: | ||
like nairat ink she wears, beguiling | like nairat ink she wears, beguiling | ||
those who'd stood before, unsmiling -- | those who'd stood before, unsmiling -- | ||
Severian ere Nik'las returned, | Severian ere Nik'las returned, | ||
ere Nikolas his fame had earned. | ere Nikolas his fame had earned. | ||
She flicks her wrist, this golden lass, | She flicks her wrist, this golden lass, | ||
and golden lash 'round neck has wrapped -- | and golden lash 'round neck has wrapped -- | ||
the Argent Hand tries to adapt | the Argent Hand tries to adapt | ||
and crush her shine beneath his mass. | and crush her shine beneath his mass. | ||
Quiet spreads throughout the field | Quiet spreads throughout the field | ||
as neither seems prepared to yield. | as neither seems prepared to yield. | ||
He throws his weight against her hold-- | He throws his weight against her hold-- | ||
a tonne's a tonne in ore or down -- | a tonne's a tonne in ore or down -- | ||
as silver struggles 'gainst the gold | as silver struggles 'gainst the gold | ||
(though both are mud-stained sanguine brown). | (though both are mud-stained sanguine brown). | ||
The serpent, driven here to rage | The serpent, driven here to rage | ||
that's quite unlike those of her age, | that's quite unlike those of her age, | ||
a flash of fang and golden glimmer | a flash of fang and golden glimmer | ||
as lash draws tighter, argent dimmer. | as lash draws tighter, argent dimmer. | ||
He operates on instinct, hurt, | He operates on instinct, hurt, | ||
as every muscle on its own | as every muscle on its own | ||
contracts, expands -- yet, like a stone | contracts, expands -- yet, like a stone | ||
the end result: he lies inert. | the end result: he lies inert. | ||
A flash of gold, the sound of gore -- | A flash of gold, the sound of gore -- | ||
she takes her prize with joyous roar. | she takes her prize with joyous roar. | ||
The crowd, to show their won respect, | The crowd, to show their won respect, | ||
roars on and on their accolades. | roars on and on their accolades. | ||
Among the factions, the effect | Among the factions, the effect | ||
is evident; their lustre fades | is evident; their lustre fades | ||
as Easterners through rite take leave. | as Easterners through rite take leave. | ||
The golden serpent begs reprieve, | The golden serpent begs reprieve, | ||
and clutches yet her bleeding side. | and clutches yet her bleeding side. | ||
The Westerners, bursting with pride, | The Westerners, bursting with pride, | ||
raucously depart with style, | raucously depart with style, | ||
to celebrate her victory | to celebrate her victory | ||
and justified theology. | and justified theology. | ||
Quietly, with just a smile, | Quietly, with just a smile, | ||
I leave to nurse a pair of drinks, | I leave to nurse a pair of drinks, | ||
transparent as the ancient sphinx. | transparent as the ancient sphinx. | ||
And later on, the gath'ring thins, | And later on, the gath'ring thins, | ||
and later still, she must defend, | and later still, she must defend, | ||
and fights once more, and wins again, | and fights once more, and wins again, | ||
though I could not those fights attend. | though I could not those fights attend. | ||
And mired in tasks numerical, | And mired in tasks numerical, | ||
I miss the sight, chimerical, | I miss the sight, chimerical, | ||
of crimson-glad, a golden vision, | of crimson-glad, a golden vision, | ||
come back with a sublime precision, | come back with a sublime precision, | ||
administer a great defeat, | administer a great defeat, | ||
slink back into crowd between | slink back into crowd between | ||
the throngs of people, and, unseen, | the throngs of people, and, unseen, | ||
vanish, silent as cat's feet. | vanish, silent as cat's feet. | ||
I finish up my work and raise | I finish up my work and raise | ||
my eyes, and who should catch my gaze, | my eyes, and who should catch my gaze, | ||
but Aristata's golden child! | but Aristata's golden child! | ||
She'd slipped inside and, unawares, | She'd slipped inside and, unawares, | ||
had caught me turned away, and smiled | had caught me turned away, and smiled | ||
as I sat toiling in this chair. | as I sat toiling in this chair. | ||
Surprise to me, I could but ponder | Surprise to me, I could but ponder | ||
at the portent: oft she wanders | at the portent: oft she wanders | ||
while, in the dank and reddish haze | while, in the dank and reddish haze | ||
I often work by candle's rays. | I often work by candle's rays. | ||
She closes distance -- I stand, calm, | She closes distance -- I stand, calm, | ||
yet offer her a puzzled stare. | yet offer her a puzzled stare. | ||
A crimson ribbon, with gentle care, | A crimson ribbon, with gentle care, | ||
she presses firmly in my palm. | she presses firmly in my palm. | ||
And then she's gone, and I'm to wonder | And then she's gone, and I'm to wonder | ||
at all my notions torn asunder. | at all my notions torn asunder. | ||
Nothing more I can disclose, | Nothing more I can disclose, | ||
and nothing more is worth the mention -- | and nothing more is worth the mention -- | ||
and so I shall, to its repose, | and so I shall, to its repose, | ||
subject this poem with best intention, | subject this poem with best intention, | ||
else on and on I'd likely ramble | else on and on I'd likely ramble | ||
and with its quality I'd gamble | and with its quality I'd gamble | ||
(a victim of the many years | (a victim of the many years | ||
that crown my head like nettling spears, | that crown my head like nettling spears, | ||
each with a painful recollection). | each with a painful recollection). | ||
The choice before me: close the distance, | The choice before me: close the distance, | ||
or edit into non-existance, | or edit into non-existance, | ||
harshly judge, avoid reflection... | harshly judge, avoid reflection... | ||
Here more is written than you know: | Here more is written than you know: | ||
this much I offer, Stheno. | this much I offer, Stheno. |
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