A Sonnet for the Fury
Iceborn goddess, for our own heart's solace,
Renew today this sacred trust that binds
Our towers gleaming, your image flawless.
So they together ever will entwine.
We knoweth thee, beneath our frigid plea;
That you alone command hard frostbit cold
And harken not to warm our land with glee,
But narrow lucent eyes on us to scold.
For what is fear of bidden ice-cold rime
Compared with perils of dragon fire.
Learn thee to face the harshest cold, sublime.
Lest fail yourself the test of time, and tire."
But... as she cloaks our land with bulwark cold,
Shall she our hearts' goodwill and warmth withhold?
An Ishgardian Girl's Retrospective
Cold spring gives way to colder summer.
The seasons having lost their way.
‘Twas not that sun chose to slumber,
But that the frost preferred to stay.
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Whatever spell was cast upon it,
On that remembered fateful day,
Could not be fled, except by permit,
Sooner some escape, than to obey.
To find the world, than to submit.
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I once was one that longed to see
To hear, to feel, to learn, and know,
What it meant to be a woman free.
To leave it all behind, and let it go.
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Now I know, the taste and feel of sun.
Beach-hot white sand beneath my feet,
In salt-sweet air, and carefree fun,
And endless smiles for all I meet.
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But I cannot forget, or cease to care,
From where I came, and who I am.
Embittered cold, that all must bear,
From where I came, and who I am.
The howling gale, hope, despair.
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Where cold-capped snow peaks linger still,
Where frost strong-clings to all it sees.
Where hearth and home bring warm goodwill,
Where love exists beneath the freeze.
Black Sands of Ul'dah
Black sand stands watch, bitter sun
Days hard toil, spirit spent, wages won
Beneath tall spires, that toward the sky stretch on,
Wondering from day-to-day when it will be done,
And who, when it comes, will have won
And what it is, they shall acquire.
Those who cannot shun hard sand blown,
Know what those above have never known,
Where hot air boils, and bakes the bone,
Spirits worn to pound the sand and stone
Yet still are told they must atone,
and stubbornly refuse to tire.
While those in towers watch with scorn,
Upon those lesser, to toil born,
Whose clothes, tools, and hands hard-worn,
Have little, gilded, or untorn,
And know not what it truly means to adorn,
The polished pleasantry of the buyer.
Upon hard dust, where pity breaks,
All are owned or bought by he who takes,
And uses them for all good things he makes,
Reminding each again of the stakes,
The threat that awaits when he awakes,
Should the master, in his whim desire.
Hope, and eyes raised to aspire still,
When rain comes to bring its thirsty-thrill,
Letting all below, devour and drink their fill,
While, showing masters beyond the till,
Who know the truth, and all they will,
Give faith to eyes, and inspire.
The sight of rain that cannot recognize
That doesn't know or seem to realize
That it should know who to penalize,
and who its supposed to demonize,
But instead, seems to emphasize
That none should be the drier.
Iceborn goddess, for our own heart's solace,
Renew today this sacred trust that binds
Our towers gleaming, your image flawless.
So they together ever will entwine.
We knoweth thee, beneath our frigid plea;
That you alone command hard frostbit cold
And harken not to warm our land with glee,
But narrow lucent eyes on us to scold.
For what is fear of bidden ice-cold rime
Compared with perils of dragon fire.
Learn thee to face the harshest cold, sublime.
Lest fail yourself the test of time, and tire."
But... as she cloaks our land with bulwark cold,
Shall she our hearts' goodwill and warmth withhold?
An Ishgardian Girl's Retrospective
Cold spring gives way to colder summer.
The seasons having lost their way.
‘Twas not that sun chose to slumber,
But that the frost preferred to stay.
Â
Whatever spell was cast upon it,
On that remembered fateful day,
Could not be fled, except by permit,
Sooner some escape, than to obey.
To find the world, than to submit.
Â
I once was one that longed to see
To hear, to feel, to learn, and know,
What it meant to be a woman free.
To leave it all behind, and let it go.
Â
Now I know, the taste and feel of sun.
Beach-hot white sand beneath my feet,
In salt-sweet air, and carefree fun,
And endless smiles for all I meet.
Â
But I cannot forget, or cease to care,
From where I came, and who I am.
Embittered cold, that all must bear,
From where I came, and who I am.
The howling gale, hope, despair.
Â
Where cold-capped snow peaks linger still,
Where frost strong-clings to all it sees.
Where hearth and home bring warm goodwill,
Where love exists beneath the freeze.
Black Sands of Ul'dah
Black sand stands watch, bitter sun
Days hard toil, spirit spent, wages won
Beneath tall spires, that toward the sky stretch on,
Wondering from day-to-day when it will be done,
And who, when it comes, will have won
And what it is, they shall acquire.
Those who cannot shun hard sand blown,
Know what those above have never known,
Where hot air boils, and bakes the bone,
Spirits worn to pound the sand and stone
Yet still are told they must atone,
and stubbornly refuse to tire.
While those in towers watch with scorn,
Upon those lesser, to toil born,
Whose clothes, tools, and hands hard-worn,
Have little, gilded, or untorn,
And know not what it truly means to adorn,
The polished pleasantry of the buyer.
Upon hard dust, where pity breaks,
All are owned or bought by he who takes,
And uses them for all good things he makes,
Reminding each again of the stakes,
The threat that awaits when he awakes,
Should the master, in his whim desire.
Hope, and eyes raised to aspire still,
When rain comes to bring its thirsty-thrill,
Letting all below, devour and drink their fill,
While, showing masters beyond the till,
Who know the truth, and all they will,
Give faith to eyes, and inspire.
The sight of rain that cannot recognize
That doesn't know or seem to realize
That it should know who to penalize,
and who its supposed to demonize,
But instead, seems to emphasize
That none should be the drier.
![[Image: 21282370099_a814a08664_o.png]](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/590/21282370099_a814a08664_o.png)
