LoR Lyricists #17 - Ekphrastic Exercises
"What's an ekphrastic poem?" It's a fancy term for a poem based on an image- a perfect fit for RIWAN's card game-captivated cohort!
Field musicians - recorded by IcarusPigeon
Field musicians, their art well underway
As golden war rages around them,
Making music - music for the golden haze.
Field musicians, their eyes shut, that they may
Let their notes augment the chaos
And not let chaos through them play.
Making music, as violence throws away
The lives of those they love and fight.
But why would any general's aide
Field musicians to such a molten fray?
Can flute be heard above the crash
Of swords and spears, and death? I pray
Making music may one day all wars slay,
But 'twixt mountains and explosions,
War wins again today.
As conjurations hurtle trebuchets
Through fire and golden skies,
Field musicians go to golden graves
Making music - music for the golden haze.
-IcarusPigeon
Death’s Duet - recorded by snowfire
I see you
I hunt you!
Is it afraid?
It runs! I wish it stayed!
No matter, soon it fades
My teeth are blades!
Ah, it hides, a charade
I’ll leave it frayed!
Hush now, dear wolf,
We will play this masquerade
Until the game is played
And it is unafraid
So let it evade
Then be dismayed
Until at last-
It is slayed!
-snowfire
An Undead Lament of Love and Hate - recorded by Hazy
Shhh Little Giant,
Dream your sorrows away,
I will cleanse your remorse and guilt
Until you find your way.
Shhh Little Warrior.
You will find your path,
That guides you to your loved one,
Even if she doesn't recognizes you back.
Shhh Little shield,
hiding your emotions under that thick cask,
Let me light your sorrow away,
Let the tears flow under that mask.
Shhh Little Broken Sword.
Don't fall into despair,
The spear is out there.
Hope always finds a way.
...
I must end this madness before i lose myself
Nightmares are taking my memories away
Mist like dust opaques my vision
And my words falter, lose cohesion.
My choices, I am losing control over my decisions,
My love fuels my heart, Granting me concision
But how long will it take, until I lose my hope
How long does it take, to pay what has been done.
Oh my undying spear
My unbreakable will, my unbreakable dear.
They struck you with a weapon you couldn't handle.
The Result of betrayal, the pain of standing against them.
They made you of marble and later of rags.
Molded to their will, to search, avenge and harass.
You aren't like that, I want the real you.
I dream here on this hell, of belonging to you.
I start to see the light again, a sentinel through the dark,
My eyes dimming towards spark, starting to look back,
The little memories that I maintain, they keep me alive,
despite still being a ghoul, I can fight back.
My heart still beats, even when is not there.
The sentiment still ringing, fighting, for your will.
I wanna hold your hand, satiate my scarred chest.
I want to be with you, even if you are dead
-Hazy
Life in the Valley - recorded by solitaryplace
Life’s good in the valley
a warm sunny day-
butterflies frolic
like so many fae.
The herd has been grazing
the shepherd’s away
and a poor little baby’s
about to be prey.
-solitaryplace
Heart of the Swords- recorded by snowfire
My heart is a battleground,
If no one else is around,
They got your back anyway,
You won't need to cry today.
Kill 'em with love,
Show them what you're made of,
This fluft is tough,
Fighting for the right stuff,
Kill 'em with love,
Show them what we're made of,
If my heart's a battleground,
Then this love is a war,
I won't let you down,
This is what I'm made for.
Made an outcast,
All in the past,
Memories surfacing in the snow around me,
Shaken, taken,
Hopeless for a moment,
Took me a second to realize,
The fire in your eyes,
We won't let it die,
This is our moment.
Kill 'em with love,
Show them what you're made of,
This fluft is tough,
Fighting for the right stuff,
Kill 'em with love,
Show them what we're made of,
If my heart's a battleground,
Then this love is a war,
I won't let you down,
This is what I'm made for.
We are the heart of the swords,
Heart of the cards, what are you asking for?
Beat down, see me around,
Call on them, they're waiting for you,
Open your doors again and let them through,
A thousand hearts as one,
It's not over until it's done,
Even if the past is lost, today has been won.
Kill 'em with love,
Show them what you're made of,
This love is tougher stuff,
Fighting for just enough,
I won't let you down,
If my heart was made a battleground,
Then this love will be my sword,
This is everything I'm fighting for,
If no one else is around,
I'll have your back anyway,
You won't need to cry today,
It will be okay.
-Vrail
Katarina - recorded by snowfire
What is it to be a sinister blade? it is sharpening your slighted weapons on the shiny down of flailing fledglings
What is it to a dance of blades? it is extending your hand but finding the flash of red of a pointed blade in exchange
What is a death lotus?
It is a
terrible flower
whose anther spits daggers
instead of bits of nectar;
it is being entranced
by the dizzy hypnosis
of a relentless
voracious
deathsworn
dreidel
and
spinning
slaughterhouse
-INEEDATTENTION
Oh look a book!- recorded by snowfire
Oh look a book!
Did master leave this behind?
But hey, book glows!
Does it know I suppose?
Is that where master goes?
Oh you’re full of woes
But I’m full of shows!
So let’s go beat our foes!
And maybe knocks some cups
Then we’ll find her together
You and I are clever!
Fast as a zephyr!
Get ready world,
To face the mighty Yummi!
Oh-and book
-snowfire
Blood Night- recorded by snowfire
Dusk approaches
They run and hide
The hunt now encroaches
Where’s day’s saving light?
My blood boils and toils
Oh I can’t wait to fight
Now deny me no longer
Dawn’s nowhere in sight
My blades are hungered
Behold endless night!
The blood moon rises
My, what a delight!
Do you see these blades?
Their demonic mights
Now the sun’s demise has come
But my heart’s payed the price
-snowfire
The moon turned red - recorded by Hazy
The moon turned red.
And once in a full moon, Once in a light night,
Everything changed, all my reality, all my sight,
An arc encompassed that ominous moon
With the letters engraved, "here lies the truth".
What kind of truth can hide a isle covered in a sea of blood.
What kind of secrets that has been shut.
Clouds dissipated and appeared in a flicking beam, like a breath,
Fatuous lights floating around my house shining,
Trees scratching their backs, yelling, creaking.
But more strange, why is that mirror on my hand glowing?
In a full moon, covered in red, in another reality of crimson red.
I discovered this mirror choose me, to follow a path, to unravel this dread.
Every cultist i had to pay a visit, a new mystery would appear.
And my beating heart beating, while what i was discovering, were my soul pursuits and fears
-Hazy
A Dance of Graceful Death- recorded by snowfire
Would you like a taste?
Oh you’re in such a haste
To meet the end you’ll face
Now, time for a chase
So run, don’t be displaced
Or my knives you’ll embrace!
Ah, you almost escaped
But death now awaits
Though don’t be abased
You only had foretaste
And won’t die for waste,
A smile I’ve been graced
-snowfire
Lover’s Twilight Meet- recorded by snowfire
Do you like the dawn?
Why, it’s soft like a fawn!
But I do love the night
Oh, Is that right?
Yes, she’s quite a sight
Well, I more adore day’s bright
Still, night has a gentler light
That, I won’t fight,
But I just might bite
If only a slight?
I’m not that uptight!
But first, a kiss I invite?
That would bring me delight!
Make my heart ignite-
As our lips unite
-snowfire
And I know that sound - recorded by Hazy
And I know that sound,
From a thousand spikes.
And I can hear that roar,
from a thousand knives.
I can hear that from,
A thousand Arrow flies.
And I can hear that again,
The havoc of war.
A thousand screams.
at unison, a thunderous hoard.
I can hear my tribe calling me.
My faithful Fierce beasts,
Begging me to the beat.
A thousand one names.
yelling mine in fear.
So many voices I hear.
And I call upon the sky.
And slam like a storm.
I tear the ground in two,
My people is calling me.
-Hazy
Oh dear brother - recorded by Hazy
Oh dear brother,
I'm so sorry for pushing you this far.
From all the pain you have been part.
For doing nothing but looking at you from afar.
Oh my dear Phel...
All I did was place the weapons for you to lose it all.
In the warzone, when your duty, your faith calls.
To build piece by piece the day of your fall.
Oh blood of my blood.
Spilled everywhere trying to fight a war of sacrifice.
To tell them that we also deserve to rise.
And for that you pushed yourself to be righteous and precise.
Oh by the goddess moon.
Don't let my only tie to the reality lose this fight
He is too wounded, please, my master, give me a sight!
I can still hear his breathing, but, he feels so light...
I pray on my knees, I pray to the moon.
I rest my hands on the temple, that I serve every noon.
I used my power, but the connection is fading...
He is losing his will to live, please, anything!
My eyes adapt to the light, my sister feels real and spiritual,
both at the same time,
I see my sister crying, I think I've pushed too far
my blood is spilled everywhere,
it hurts on my body everywhere,
my will is broken, I need a repair,
my soul is fading, my lungs as well,
I'm sorry Alune, I think on my head
I did this again, I say this myself
I know why you are crying, and I try to caress her
but we are too far apart, I know this pretty well
I try to wake up, stay, head on, run down.
My head spins, feels light, feels weak, falls down.
I only need a rest, a push, I will be well.
A miracle, a lending hand, my sister is recovering her fate,
But I can't stand, and I need to, for me, for her.
I feel her tears drying on my suit, even if these aren't there.
I wanna hug her, tell her I'm fine, even if I can't feel her.
I missed you. I tell her, with my raspy painful voice.
I know she missed me as well, without emitting a single noise.
she rests on my side, waiting for me to wake up.
I stay right there, like a rag, all fucked up.
I can feel a shadow, from my side, but cant look behind
An ambush, why? Solari are such reckless, but I cant fight or hide.
I hesitate, but my sisters doesn't emits a sound.
but a woman voice offers me her hand, and I can see her by looking around.
Hey Soldier, will take you to be treated and rest,
I'm glad for your service, but, as your leader, I have to try
that you are safe.
-Hazy