Elbereth, that was totally amazing, beautiful, achingly sad and yet so true and powerful. WELL DONE.

Elbereth, as I read each of your works, I feels that you are a very understanding and caring person. Good work! Thank you for all you posts on PT!

Rukain, that really was outstanding, I read it through twice and thought about it for awhile afterward. Congratulations! You really out did yourself. But you want truth...? Here it is, you need to relax more if this is what comes from it!

Leelee, please do that! A prose thread would be welcome. Also, on the topic of bards....I have often contemplated being one. You know, many times when people think of a bard, they picture a wizened, old man with long white hair, a beard and a unique staff. No. Personally, I think a bard can be anyone. The way I imagine myself as a bard is a young man, strong, tall, smiling, singing and overflowing with creativity, truth, and poems, songs, stories, etc. Really, I think that most of us here on this thread are bards at heart. Don't you think?

Peace,

Wen

A Wonderful poem Elbereth.

Here's one of mine now, it's a bit sad I think, inspired by many past wars all put together.

Lost Child

Once he was a happy child

With family and friends to confide.

Once before, a long time ago,

Before they came and took them.

They came within the dark of night,

They came so sudden and so secret

They took all and leaving none,

None but the frightened child.

He had hidden from all, too scared

Had not realized what they had done.

Though he was safe; they wouldn’t take him

Thought they’d left him with his family.

Little did he know that they were waiting,

Watching for hiders, not leaving any.

Little did he know that they were there,

In the dark beside him, aware.

He snuck out and went to find them,

Went to find his family gone.

He looked around in loss and despair,

Then he saw them standing there.

He turned around, he turned to run,

But they chased him.

Shot him dead, broke him down,

There they left him, alone for death....

                                                                          Lady Alyss

Thank you for your words. It's wonderful to read such encouraging posts! That makes me work harder and happier too.

Lady Alyss, I almost cry with your last work. How sad it is! It's beautifully written but when you imagine such story, it tightens the heart! Your poems are always so full of a dark emotion, infinite sorrow, etc. I love them but they make me think about you and sometimes I wonder, how a young girl can feel those things? It's stunning the way you express them, simple and direct.

Regarding to the bard discussion, I feel the same as Leelee, I couldn't be in front of an audience because I am too shy so I would turn suddenly red and forget everything I had to say. By the way, a bard was one of those people that are not mentioned in the books such as the names of Kings or Battles but they had an interesting role in the society long ago. 

Elberth I completely agree with you about Lady, so dark and haunting, so real and intimate. Lady my chat thing refuses to work most of the time, could you try once more please? I laughed so hard about you turning red, for shyness has plagued me since a very young child and I could almost fry eggs on my cheeks when anyone even looks at me. So why I was in ballet, taught interpretive and rock ballet, and sang in a rock band and played Celtic music is rather a mystery. It is just that I love music and dance and like to share with others that might benefit from it emotionally. In one of my dance classes I simply could not get rid of the dancers afterward, It was like suddenly having sixty other family members and they all wanted to sit about and talk and that was AGONY for me for I like being quiet and alone. All of us here are quite monastic most of the time and actually that helps my daughter to be able to be here and rest. I suppose if we were both together El we would look like red apples most of the time!

Oerath I would LOVE to jam with you. We do everything from classical to rock to metal to Celtic, Middle-Eastern, all of us would love to jam with you. your voice is like thunder from the mountains. love it.

Hey everybody!

Such beautiful poems on this thread. I'm so glad so many new poets have come and are contributing in this dear place And I hope you all are well and happy. Especially my oldest friends Leels and Oerath and Lady A and my gorgeous new poets too.

Have a great day, guys

Odette! The Fairy Queen! Here? Not anymore!?

Do come back, darn it. ^^

We miss ya and your works. It hasn't been the same, since you decided to spend less time on this site, but I know that you have your reasons, unlike I, if I decide to be off for a while or not post stuff for a while. It's either pure laziness or stacking of different real life stuff.

Either way, good to see a post from you in a while, and I hope to see more of those along the days.

Ah, so those words were something? I must admit, it was a quick write. Less than 15 minutes, but the results were pleasant enough. Always nice to get some additions to the archives, though I haven't archived stuff in a long while. It's all on the pages of this site, I think, except Darbeian stuff. Slow progress, but good so far. I'm hand-writing it all to pages of a book.

Regarding my newly written version of 'Xaié, the guardian of knowledge and lore' - I just remembered that I had four of those works as written, but the fourth one, I never posted it. I guess it wasn't good enough by that time, but now, I'd like to finish what I started, but with a lot of stuff going on today, I guess it'll have to wait some days.

Nonetheless. Heh, this should be funny. When I started to write Arcadian related stuff, my first character was Oerath Windsoul, a wanderer type, a guardian of life and nature. A Savior and a hero of people. Pretty much the inner me, and then for some reason, the name 'Oerath' got stuck into my mind, since it begins with 'o', just like my own name. First it was just Oerath, then I changed it to Oerath of Shadowmight, and lastly, to Oerath Windsoul.

I just remembered all of that stuff, so that's the truth about my artistic name.

Furthermore, I'll give you the entitle, just like always:

Oerath Windsoul, The Guardian of Nature and Life

Due to my tiredness, I've just been chilling on my sofa for the last two days, and I don't feel like finishing some story this evening, but I feel like doing at least one more 'memorable old school' re-make.

It's 'The Hollow Halls' - work that never got attention, despite the beauty of it's lines. I want to cut some of it and add something that I should've done ages ago.

I don't know will it become better or not, but if I feel like doing something, then it shall be done.

The Hollow Halls (Where the lost shall meet)

For long ages, I just wandered all alone
I walked through the darkest of all forests, in search of a new hope
And during my journeys, I learned many things about the ancient world
And I'd wish to live those times, when the dragons still ruled upon this earth

But still.. everything I did.. It all was in vain..

I couldn't find your lost soul..

I even tried to forget, but I just couldn't forget the day, when you passed away..

And now I know.. That there is no other way.. I won't leave you alone..

I am too old to carry on with your wishes and your hopes

There's nothing left in this world for me to live for

For one last time, I'll spread my wings and fly like an owl

Night, be gentle, and take my soul.. Give it to the one to whom it belongs..

The Hollow Halls.. A palace.. Made of broken stars..

Where the rain never falls.. Where the daylight is forever gone..

I've no choice.. I will do it all for you..

If you can hear me, then listen to this song.. And our love will become true..

Once again..

This life is so short, and dreams are too long
Before I finally awake, I may be already gone
Sky is now so clear and blue, I will come to the hollow halls with you
Because.. You're the only one.. To you, I would've even given the heart of our sun..

And now we've both passed away

We've left the realm of life and joy far behind

I once said to you that we would rejoin someday..

So, here I finally am.. You're the one, I came here to find

And now, my beloved one, we can sing and dance again..

Together now and forever, in life and in death..

'These halls are so cold and dark, often, there's no laughter to be heard..

But he still protects us, and keeps this realm apart from the outside world..

There he just sits on his iron throne.. With his dark steed beside him..

Even his eyes are full of unimaginable power.. Those eyes are so deadly and dim..'

And where the lost shall meet..

And where life is just a dream..

There they wander, spirits from times past and gone

The Hollow Halls is their new home..

Written by: Otto 'Oerath Windsoul' Timonen

, I hope Elbereth, that your weekend is going well. And i also hope you get some mental as well as physical rest. Don't think about how much or when you have time to write. Just live and breathe and like the gentle rain, when it comes unexpectedly and drenches tired trees and grass, turning everything so vivid and green and rainbow, so too will words surprised you just when they should and we shall be blessed by them

O'erath, palace made from broken glass, to me that speaks of all the inhabitants that are or were have been wounded and have fragmented thoughts and pain . Very moving the whole piece.

Fahv I do of course remember and the results are stunning. How poignant and heart breaking, and it made me cry. i still have tears, those words will haunt the halls of my memories forever. thank you.

Yeah Leelee, you are right. I cannot force things to come but writing helps me to get out those painful things we use to keep inside. Those words we swallow just for avoiding  to hurt anyone, even when they deserve them.  However who am I to teach anyone? Everybody must learn by themselves through the lessons life brings to them; if they refuse to see what they have to accept, let them be! Lately I've been writing a lot without even thinking of it. It's great! As for the tiredness is due to my job and because last weekend I went to a concert and only slept for 3 hours before I went to work! Apart from that, I have too many things in my head, there are moments when we must find our way and I find it nowhere!!! There are times.... I suppose.

Well, coming back to the thread itself. Favhier, I'm sure you will scape from your "prison" step by step, through writing it's a good therapy and you'll see how good you will feel when from those fearful feelings you create such precious poems as you've done. Go on! I understand you pretty well. We are all in the dark sea of doubts....

Hehe, it's alright, Fahvier. It's not so serious after all. That commenting and stuff.

And oh geez, another week - more or less well spent. I've even got a day-off tomorrow.

Hmm, took me a week to post something, but I guess that can't be helped. I've had some serious early wake-ups lately.

Anyway, while I've been madly watching One Piece (Japanese manga/anime), I've also been dotting some stuff with open office.

So, now that I'm back in the business, I guess I owe a few story bits. I'll try to post the ones that have been under progress lately, and well, let's see how it goes. This weekend should be more than enough.

Well done Oerath  no surprise to me.

Don't let that intimidate any one. Everyone has a poem a song a story in his or her heart and the rest of us so appreciate your sharing. Keep on please, we have so much to learn from one another, and each person has his or her absolutely unique and beautiful style.

Footsteps hushed

Snowflakes alight

On her hair, her nose

While she smiles

Running around

In the dimming sunlight

I have a LOT of catching up to do.. I mean reading all the awesome poetry you guys have posted while I was away. Looking forward to it

It's good to have ya back, fairy queen Odette.

And it's good to see that you stil do write. Let us have a chat sometimes. I miss those creative talks with ya.

This will be something quite different from what I usually write, but the usual elements are still visible there and there. I hope it's a good read!

Song of Oceanic Depths

I've sailed these seas for long enough to know..

That there are many dangerous waters, and things that are better left alone..

If you ever hear music or voices from under the waves, then cover your ears..

Or you'll be lured into a deadly trap.. Do not be deceived by the beauty of sirens

'Cause..

One night, I heard a woman's voice, followed by a silent underwater choir

And then I looked down, at a place, where many men have drown

No matter how much I tried to ignore it, I still kept hearing that song

And so I thought: 'If I go down there, will I find what I'm truly longing for?'

And so I dove.. That seawater was so cold..

But I didn't care.. My only desire was to witness the beauty of those maidens..

Mesmerized by their singing.. I forgot about my ship, crew and everything..

A song that is known as the sailor's end.. A song of oceanic depths..

No matter how much I dove.. No matter how much I prayed to the gods..

I couldn't hold my breath for long enough.. I had no other choice, but to forget about it all..

But then someone grabbed my legs, and I thought: 'Is this the end?'

And then I saw something that my mind couldn't comprehend..

It was a siren, but there was no signs of beauty or innocence in it's eyes..

It looked like a vile serpent.. With a desire to devour the very energies of life..

And then I felt the touch of pure darkness, but with all of my remaining strength, I managed to escape..

And as I dove back towards the surface, that creature kept chasing me..

But luckily, I was saved by my crewmen, they pulled me out off those waters..

And ever since of that day.. I've told everyone to fear the song oceanic depths..

'Do not be fooled by mere beauty and lovely singing..'

'Do not surrender your heart to those beings, or you'll truly lose everything.'

Written by: Otto 'Oerath Windsoul' Timonen

I did a very good job in editing and re-writing this one, and now I feel that it is finally complete. For long, I had felt that I'd have to do something about it, but I just didn't take interest in doing that.

I can't promise will it be better than the original one, but behold.

The Last Tale ’Of a mortal woman and a fallen man.’

I : Memories, Sadness and Despair

With my eyes I can see clearly into the heart of emptiness
And now I feel that even there’s nothing left for me
For so long I waited for something real, for so long I just sat alone and cried
And now I’ve no will to carry on anymore, ’cause all hope has already died

All of those good memories, they’re now lost and forever gone
All of those feelings have disappeared like fog into thin air
My heart is ruined and frozen, no fire could ever break that ice
Inside it lies nothing, but sadness...
(Just take a step on the path of loneliness and demise.)

’There’s nothing left but memories, sadness and despair.’

II : End of everything

Moon is the only one shining in the darkness of this night
Hatred and fury are both burning me from inside
I’ve nothing to live for, and even though I've no reason to die..
I still want to feel the cold touch of a scythe..
I just want to disappear...
I just want to become a part of the sky.. So blue and clear..
Forever lost from this world...
The wheel of my life will not turn..
Ever again..
No more, I shall rise and defend..
Farewell, 'cause this is the end.. Of everything
Was it all just a dream?

III : Unexpected journey

’And after that day, my physical body ceased to exist, and I became a wandering spirit. But by becoming one with the astral world, I knew that I could now search for my dead wife. And for thousands of years, there I wandered and wandered.. But I just couldn't find her.. And yet still, without knowing the way, I just kept walking forward.. For long, I had longed to see the daylight once more, 'cause there's no such thing as light in the dreamworld. There's only darkness.. And even something more than darkness.. Pure void..

But then one day, I encountered a being, who gave me an unique chance. He said: 'Do you wish to become flesh and bone for just one more day? Do you wish to see those that you left behind and casted away?'

And without hesitating.. I accepted his offer, and so I came back. Wondering, doubting, searching for something. And then I found something I wasn't even looking for. I crossed paths with a mortal woman, whose beauty nearly broke my heart.
Her hair was made of gold and silver, her smile was more divine than the sun itself, and overall, she was as beautiful as a flower that is about to bloom and blossom for great summer seasons untod. And so we met, and before even realizing it, I fell in love with her, and so did she with me..'

’And that truly was an unexpected journey.’


IV : End of the Road

'No matter how I tried to escape from that cruel fate, I just couldn't. Always when I tried to walk away from her, my body didn't move. I knew that I could not be with her, and my time was running out, so I had to tell her the truth..'

Spoken by the woman:

'It is unfair if you leave me now, I just met you..
But something inside me told me to fall in love with you.
And I don't know what to do, if I'll be left all alone again...
I am not sure will my heart be able to bear the pain of it...'

Spoken by the man:

'I..I've no choice, this wasn't meant to happen, but it did...
At least there's one thing I can promise to you: You'll never be left alone.
From now on, I shall always walk beside you, no matter how it rains or pours. And even if you're being chased by a storm or by creatures from the beyond..
I won't abandon you.. I'll keep you safe and enlighten your paths.. And I shall even smile at you when you're alone, just like the sun from high above..
And I want to let you know that I love you too, but I cannot stay here for any longer.. My place is in the sky.. In the world of lost dreams.’

'And so I departed from that world, but before doing so, I sang to her for one last time, before I disappeared entirely.. She cried and cried, but I knew that this song would soothe her heart and soul.'

V : The Last Tale

There’s no words left to say.. Wind is still so calm, sky is still so grey
This tale has come to it’s end, and now it’s time to say farewell..
But my spirit, it will always follow you wherever you go
It will guide you when you’re lost, and far away from your home

There’s no words left to say.. Wind is still so calm, sky is still so grey
This tale has come to it’s end, and now it’s time to say farewell..
But my spirit, it will always follow you wherever you go
It will guide you when you’re lost, and far away from your home

This is the place, where we have to depart
This is the edge of reality
This is the place, where we have to depart
On the other side lies my path, the path of dreams and fantasy

This is the end of our tale...
The last tale...
And I shall never forget..
That for one more day.. I had someone who to love and protect..

Written by: Otto ’Oerath Windsoul’ Timonen

Originally made: y. 2004
Re-written: y. 2008
Finished: at the end of year 2008
Edited and partially re-written: y. 2012

Hey, this isn't my poem, it's an extract from The Lay of  Wala, taken from the Icelandic Elder Edda, translation by Pfeiffer from his "Visit to Iceland". I found it quoted in a very old copy of "Asgard and the Gods" by Wagner and MacDowell (1880). I think it may have given Tolkien some ideas for character names.

"Then Modsognir became the first

Of all the Dvergues [dwarves], but Durin the second

They formed of earth the multitude of the dvergues

In the human figure as Durin proposed

Nyi and Nidi, Nordri and Sudri,

Austri and Vestri, Althiofr, Dwalin

Nar and Nain, Nipingr, Dain

Bifurr and Bafurr, Bumburr, Nori.

Anarr and Onarr, Ai, Miodvitnir,

Veigr, Gandalfr, Vindalfr, Thorinn,

Fili and Kili, Fundinn, Nali,

Hepti, Vili, Hanarr, Sviorr.

Frar, Fornbogi, Froegr, Loni,

Thrar, and Thrainn, Thror, Vitr, Litr,

Nyr, and Nyradr. – Behold, I have enumerated exactly

The Dvergues powerful and intelligent."

Shades of Tolkien Pignut, that was a surprise. Thank you. You might expand upon it for us, tell us some of the meaning and how it affected you. I liked very much the ancient feel to it, the mythological shades it evoked in my mind. And welcome to this thread, nice of you to join us.

Hmm, that post surely made me to wonder. Upon reading: 'Asgard' and 'Gods', you immediately got my interest, since I'm greatly interested in Norse Mythology/Beliefs, and have studied it via books and internet. Scandinavia prevails.

Iceland, you say? Quite interesting.

Anyway, welcome to the thread. I'm Oerath Windsoul, and if you ever happen to see me in the chat box, be sure to throw a message at me. A bard, a poet, a musician and a writer at your service! /bow

Those of you, who feel hungry for some poetry, you'll have some by tonight. I hope my latest ones were enjoyable, 'The Last Tale' re-make has been gaining some favorable comments on Allpoetry too. It was surely a right thing to do.

Hullo, Rachel. Good to see ya around. By the way, I didn't manage to finish that work I started last night, 'cause I was feeling way too sleepy due to drinking and eating good food.

So, I think I'll write that one today.

Nothing much, so have a nice and laid-back sunday, all of you.

20 years ago When I was at school, I found "Asgard and the Gods" on a table in the school library, and started reading avidly. The illustrations alone were amazing. My English teacher came over and said:

"You like it? It's yours" I guess he had decided to pass it on to the first person to show an interest in it.

Back to the lay of Wala. The story is that Wala was a dead prophetess. Odin descended into Hell to speak with her ghost and ask her about the future. The lay of Wala is her reply, and describes the creation of the world through to its destruction at the final battle of Ragnarok.

The tone of the poem is somewhat grim, and the prophetess is not happy about being woken from her everlasting sleep: ""Who is it?" she replied in a hollow voice "That troubles my repose? Snow has covered my bed, and the rains and dews have watered it for many years. I have long been dead.""

Odin introduces himself as "Wegtam" ("Knower of the road" , and after many questions, Wala concludes saying:

"Thou art not Wegtam, thou art Odin and knowest all things. Go home now to Asgard. Thou hast wakened the dead with thy mighty runes, and made her speak with thee. None other will disturb my slumber until Loki is free again and the gods are about to pass away."

I think Bishop Snorri Sturlesson who recorded the Eddas was perhaps putting a Christian spin on the Norse legends, as Tolkien also did. The portrayal of Ragnarrok sounds a little like something from Revelations, and Loki changes from a mischievous trickster into a Satanic figure

Oh, I have read something about Odin life in a book about the runes in Scandinavian countries. I love mythology. Regarding to the opinion about the religious touch, it doesn't matter. I think this is not the place to discuss about religion but in any story real or fantasy there is always a good and an evil spirit / character or whatever. It's very human, we all have both sides  . Nobody is perfect but who wants to be?

As an anecdote, I should tell you that when I have a child (in the future I would like to have several children), I like to call him: Odin or maybe Merlin. I find those names so strong and also wise.

What a day it has been. First, I wrote one whole new piece, re-wrote an older work and then went to record some vocal videos at my training house.

I also wrote some new stuff over there, but I won't be posting it today.

I think it would be too much for just one day.

I am quite surprised that I decided to start doing these re-makes or re-writes. It's quite refreshing and I believe that I've managed to add a lot more than I could've done in my early years of writing.

I've improved a lot from those times, and to be honest, only when I fulfilled 17 or 18, my english started to be good both in writing and speaking.

Took some time to study through books, movies, series, various other stuff and of course, I had to learn a lot about fantasy words.

I'm glad I did, and I'm also glad I turned my attention back to Arcadian Tales. I think I cannot even permanently quit something that I've done so much for.

Alright, time to end this post. Good night.

That sentence or more like those particular sentences are quite old, and I didn't want to change them, but 'Death is only a punishment' makes sense in The World of Arcadian. There isn't much of criminality or people who do terrible deeds and crimes, but if one kills another, a punishment is death, and those who die with such a deed upon their shoulders, the spirits of those people will be left to wander on the surface of the world, unless one of the guardians decides to save them.

So, death is only a punishment.

In that work, it could be what Oerath thought about those who came into his way, while he was being controlled by Mógrah. Like: 'Those who desire to stop me, deserve death as a punishment.'

And please, do write. I suggest you to do it as I do, though I don't believe most people write that way. I usually open up a new post and write it as I post. It's quite teaching and by doing so, you'll get to understand, how much time you use to write, or how easy for you it is to write from one-stand.