Difference between revisions of "Open Window"

On the dark and distant moors, a lone fire set to burning.

On the dark and distant moors, a lone fire set to burning.

As around the flames, yearning, sat a camp of only four.

As around the flames, yearning, sat a camp of only four.

One: the trapper, young and strapping.

One: the trapper, young and strapping.

Two: the navigator, lost.

Two: the navigator, lost.

Three: a petty thief and cut-throat.

Three: a petty thief and cut-throat.

The fourth a woman of the moss.

The fourth a woman of the moss.

With eyes kind and old hands lined, she had happened on the band.

With eyes kind and old hands lined, she had happened on the band.

Sensed their troubles with a look, and sat down to understand.

Sensed their troubles with a look, and sat down to understand.

"Ole matron, where ye come from? We been thirstin' for a while.

"Ole matron, where ye come from? We been thirstin' for a while.

Honest folk for honest work. We been walkin' now for miles."

Honest folk for honest work. We been walkin' now for miles."

Here the others quickly nodded.

Here the others quickly nodded.

They were cold and damp with mist.

They were cold and damp with mist.

"Be ye a witch or wise woman?

"Be ye a witch or wise woman?

Apothecary? Herbalist?"

Apothecary? Herbalist?"

She just smiled and shook her head, muddy in her ivory cloak.

She just smiled and shook her head, muddy in her ivory cloak.

She warmed herself by the fire and looked deep into the smoke.

She warmed herself by the fire and looked deep into the smoke.

"I'm a servant of the wilds, come to help my fellow man.

"I'm a servant of the wilds, come to help my fellow man.

Though you ventured out for gold, did you venture with a plan?"

Though you ventured out for gold, did you venture with a plan?"

They told their story all at once,

They told their story all at once,

with voices overlapping.

with voices overlapping.

"The axle broke."

"The axle broke."

"The blade blunted."

"The blade blunted."

"The clouds came out.

"The clouds came out.

"The traps kept snapping."

"The traps kept snapping."

Her face grey, the woman sighed. She had heard this tale before.

Her face grey, the woman sighed. She had heard this tale before.

"Luck left you at every turn, until you lucked upon the Moor."

"Luck left you at every turn, until you lucked upon the Moor."

At her back, the sun was setting. Or was it rising?

At her back, the sun was setting. Or was it rising?

Was it risen? Was it climbing through silver veils of fog?

Was it risen? Was it climbing through silver veils of fog?

When she spoke, her eyes were shining

When she spoke, her eyes were shining

as she told them of the wealth

as she told them of the wealth

that dear Nature was supplying

that dear Nature was supplying

to keep Pri'alysh in perfect health.

to keep Pri'alysh in perfect health.

"You can hunt the grouse for days. They are fat with silken down.

"You can hunt the grouse for days. They are fat with silken down.

You can oil your swords with blood. You can drink from fertile ground."

You can oil your swords with blood. You can drink from fertile ground."

"Fill pillows with fine feathers!" Now the trapper had the gist.

"Fill pillows with fine feathers!" Now the trapper had the gist.