Shadows

[taiauberon]

This is a poem I wrote many years ago.  I barely remember writing it, and even to this day it gives me chills (and has given many others who read it chills as well).  I don't know what it all means, I get glimpses. 

Shadows of a life; Memories of the past
Floating back to me; As images in glass
Patiently I've waited; As frantically I've searched
Never hoping to regain; Some forgotten hurt
But suddenly I've found; What I thought forever lost
The past may be retained; But what will be the cost
Is it fleeting; This love perhaps I've found
Or will it be eternal; And we forever bound
To one another always; In love and life and debt
To those whose lives are lost; To those for whom we wept
This duty that we keep; These promises we've made
To ourselves, to our people; To the world that we have made
I wonder what it means; I think, perhaps, I know
What made you leave that day; The chance for me to grow
For though our time is fleeting; And much though we have gained
The chances of a lifetime; Are duty all the same
Though knowledge is forgotten; But the ritual still remains
This place where we are living; Needs our help so on this day
I pray love and life and duty; And promises as made
Will be enough to keep up going; In this a frightening game
In our continued stuggle; To prove that we were right
We will keep moving onward; Though every silent night
Our people though are scattered; Through time and worlds and name
Are loyal ever waiting; For us to call their names
A force of strength and duty; A group of thirteen friends
Their lives are ever bound; Their duty never ends
Our lives are bound in blood; From past to future time
An oath we swore on bended knee; To hold ourselves aligned
Never doubting in the truth; Never forgetting those who died
We kept moving onward; as regular as the tide
Our home no longer safe; our world has turned to dust
But we kept the strength of truth; And were looked at with disgust
As traitors we were seen; for keeping oaths in sorrow made
Our lives still represented; the truth from which they strayed
A life forever held; in trust the will of time
A memory of a nationhood; for this we toe the line
Ever following the words; Written by the ones who've died
Our people held behind the sword; by then our hands were tied
By duty to the gods, Now forgotten turned to dust
Their words were seen as prophecy; By those we knew were just
A people held by traitors; A life no longer sane
The fear of losing all we knew; In this a deadly game
Now the world around us changes; Catching up to what we know
Almost ready for a prophecy; Not written here below
Above us moves the universe; ever turning ever  bright
Out where our future lies; In ever silent night
On other worlds where we may stand; To prove ourselves again
The enemy stands waiting; to break the ties of friends
What next we wonder daily; Will it ever end
Can we find our safety; Will the sorrow ever end
Our paths converge on one; Whose true name we never knew
He holds us in his hand; In which we find the clue
To the question we have asked; In time and time again
We will be together; And live again as friends
From each other we are hidden; Until time no longers flows
In circumstance written; A long long time ago
We keep pushing forward; toward eventual end
Where we will find the truth; And live it all again
This world in which we stand; Among its people now
A place to call our home; For as long as time allows
For here we planted seeds; For here we made our home
Protecting ever watching; For that constant threat
Waiting, waiting, waiting; But  can we now forget
That pain, that anger, leaving; Family, friends behind
Unfortunately believing; Not this my will, but thine
I wonder often lately; Why we met again today
And lose myself thinking; Of your eyes, still grey
Our lives forever bound; In love, in life, in debt
To those who died, to those who stayed; to those for whom we wept
Our lives are joined forever; With the remainder of our friends
But will we be together; When this the sorrow ends
Again the cycles turn; A prophecy remains
Our lives again are pawns; In balance we remain
A force of duty and of strength; A group of thirteen friends
But will we still be together; When this, the saga ends.

[fairysurreale]

Mar. 14, 2008 at 10:38 AM Wow....you are right about the shivers.  Have you thought about getting it published?

[taiauberon]

Mar. 14, 2008 at 10:42 AM Not sure if I want to actually publish it.  It may get published in part if I ever get my book finished because I'm sure it will show up (at least in pieces) there as well.

(Original Poster)