Just a bit of nonsense

[Solivagus]

And lo, the Walker strode forth across the land, wielding sword and staff.

He brought forth peace and joy and broke the bonds that tied men to the land.

And all people were free of tyranny and depresion.

Thus was the First Age begun.

 

Then came a fall of fire and ice.

The land burned and water froze while staff and sword were helpless.

And the people of the land cried out unto the Walker for aid.

But the Walker could do nothing but sit and watch and weep.

 

Thus he was cast down from the high place where men before had stationed him.

His staff was shattered and his sword was sundered by the angry masses.

With fear and sorrow in his breast he ran from the mob,

Ran from the people he had worked so hard to save.

 

Thus began the Second Age.

 

In time, the land and sky returned, and man was once more bound to the soil.

Knowledge of the First Age was lost save in legend.

Ancient tales spoke of a warrior of good and of peace and of joy,

But these fell apart and cast aside as fairy tales.

 

And yet in the east the Walker resided.

Though now a different dream ran through his veins.

With fire in his blood and ice in yhis eyes new eapons were forged.

Weapons that would reforge the land, destroying those who had cast him aside.

 

From darkest pit and highest peak the Walker climbed.

Creatures of darkness he gathered about him,

Filling them with the anger that burnt within his breast.

Powerful they became, mighty in arms, and so his revenge began.

 

Thus began the Third Age.

 

Rending, tearing, clawing, ripping, the beasts ran onward.

Creatures of death and decay and terror raced across the grass.

At thier head strode the Walker, his laughter shaking the mountains,

His sword and staff laying waste to the land that was once precious to him.

 

In fear the people cried out, cried out to the Walker to halt his advance.

But no heed was paid to them as they were trampled beneath his feet.

"You who have cast me aside, you will feel my wrath!"

And with these words of hatred the Walker came on.

 

In the last desperate days the men gathered together.

But it was too little, too late.

On the final fields of the last shred of green the men of the world made thier stand.

And on that field they perished, blood soaking the grass as one by one they fell.

 

Thus came the end of the world.

Thus was the Walker both triumphant and ruined,

Filled with joy for his anger slaked,

And sadness for that part which loved the land still.

 

This was created while I was working at Tescos, it sounded better then than when I write it down.

[Vanessa]

Vanessa narrows her eyes at Richard. "I remember this from Notley, as I remember the teacher gave us both detention for it. This time I'm going to make the good guys win "

 

But while the Walker strode the land, bringing ruin to all,

The people of good and right rose up against him and,

With steel in thier hearts and righteous power,

They drove home thier attack.

 

Back the Walker and his foul minions were pushed.

Back to the dark east from where they were formed.

Back to the black woods and soiled ground that,

Formed the home of the empty Walker.

 

Sword crashed down and staff blazed fire,

But still the battleline held. Men found hope and courage,

The sight of thier kings driving home the attack,

Brought strength to thier aching limbs.

 

Slowly, step by step the Walker retreated.

Step by step his darkness waned and the light of the world brightened.

The sun blazed once more in all its glory. The darkness,

Force created of anger foul, was diminished and almost destroyed.

 

Now it lurks once more, alone and weak.

Nursing its wounds and withering in hatred.

Now begins the fourth age when men,

Swore never to forget, and always keep a watch.

 

I'm going to match you blow for blow with this...

[Yuki Kokoro]

I enjoyed the way you took a very personal and emotional reaction and turned it into an epic-type story. Everyone can relate to how much it hurts to be forgotten and unappreciated and it makes the Walker a sympathetic character even though/up until he destroys the world in the end. He appeals to that side of us that rages when we are treated badly.

 

"Thus was the Walker both triumphant and ruined,

Filled with joy for his anger slaked,

And sadness for that part which loved the land still"

This is a great ending and brings some of the good character from the beginning back into the madness/anger that overcame him.

 

Although poems do tend to sound better as ideas, I think you did an excellent job putting this one into words. Nice job.

 

Vanessa ~

Interesting reply that changes the whole focus of the poem from the Walker and the wrongs he feels have been done to him to the plight of the people. It changes the Walker from a nearly symapthetic character to the true villian, bringing out two valid interpretations of this set of events with the two different endings the poems have. I don't think there is a good and bad here though, just two different ways of looking at things and two different messages.

Edited January 7, 2004 by Yuki Kokoro

[Solivagus]

Richard scowled irritably over at Vanessa. "Fine, a contest. See if I care. I just hope you find a place in the Pen of your own to stay. Soon."

 

For many years the race of man watched to the east.

For many years they endured hardship and pain,

As the wind howled and buffeted them and the rain eroded them.

But still thier mistress refused to relent, claiming the watch must be kept.

 

For many years she held sway over the race of man,

But as year passed after year thier fear of her began to fade.

Her orders were questioned, the old tales were forgotten,

And the watchers of the east relaxed thier vigil.

 

Still the wind howled into them, weakining and softening them.

Still the rain wore at thier skin, 'till it was raw from the elements.

In her blindness she failed to see, to realise who sent the elements,

And even she began to think herself safe. She became a fool.

 

And then the Walker came again in hidden form.

A councillor he bacame even unto she who had stopped him.

For at the end of the age the hearts of men rebelled,

Her rule was attacked and few of the men remained loyal.

 

Upon her side the Walker stood in hidden guise.

With cunning and skill he broke the rebellion.

Thus he gained the trust of she who was her enemy.

Thus he gained the ear of the ruler of men.

 

He whispered, and she set herself above men where before all were equal.

And the hearts of men were angered by her aloofness.

He whispered again, and once more she obeyed, sentancing those

Who spoke against her to death, and the hearts of men were worn again.

 

He whispered a final time and his words seemed pleasing to her ears.

She disbanded the watch to the east convinced the Walker was dead.

For the voice of her greatest ally had told her so,

And she knew he would never decieve her.

 

Thus was the fate of man tipped out of balance again,

Thus the Walker readied himself for battle once more.

Thus his armies gathered near the edge of the border,

And still she, who now claimed queenship, was blinded by the words of the Walker.

 

Come get some...

Edited January 7, 2004 by Solivagus