Down the Rolling River

by: Emmitt Thatcher

Down the rolling river,
where the willow grows.
Just across the water,
where the suns reflection glows.

Down the rolling river,
lies an old man’s grave.
Just beneath the shady oak,
where protective branches wave.

There the old man lies,
just beside the path.
Under summer and winter skies
just beneath the earth.

There he will lay forever,
wrapped in death’s embrace.
The old man of the forest,
lost to time and space.

He was the first to mourn the winter,
the first to celebrate in spring.
The rain gave him cause to rejoice,
the wind had made him sing.

The sound of his laughter,
rolled over the hills.
Throughout the forest his songs could be heard,
springing forth at will.

Age had lost its hold on him.
his wisdom of time unknown.
The forest was his kingdom,
the mountains were his home.

His eyes reflected the starry night,
in them wisdom shown.
In his smile was such joy,
that none have ever known.

But the pain of the world tore his heart,
it drained his life away.
For he who loved the world so much,
became sorrows greatest prey.

Now his song has ended,
his laughter is no more.
His wisdom has now faded,
his memory lost to the time of yore.

Down the rolling river,
lies an old man’s grave.
Just beneath the shady oak,
where protective branches wave.

~~ * ~~

Escaping the Dark

by: Cassie H.

A doorway to another time and place
within my mind does dwell,
Through which I wander now and then
when rest is granted, from the fell
and awful beasts we daily fight,
To save our home
from evil’s blight.

That portal takes me far away to
childish fancies, I recall
when love and laughter filled the air,
No darkness smothered with its pall
of heavy miring apathy.
Greenwood was bright
as she was free.

I dance once more amongst the trees and fly
as carefree as a bird
along their branches, thick with leaves
where tawar’s song can still be heard
by those with heart enough to hear.
There is no death,
No blight, no fear.

My father races at my side, his cares
all vanished, wild, unbound
as Silvans goad us faster yet
to catch the moon and see him crowned
with starlight in the canopy.
A king to them,
Refuge to me.

Here dwells my final hope and shield against
the dark lords cruel sway,
Escape when war becomes too much,
Bloodshed too high a price to pay
for fëa to keep unstained and pure.
Through here is peace,
Though heart is sore.

A doorway to another time and place
within my mind does dwell,
and though my soul would tarry there
I dare not let its gentle swell
Of calm ensnare me yet a while,
I must endure
to make it real.

~~ * ~~

No Longer Twain

by: Noriah

In a hand
Soft and small
A deadly band
To rule them all

My Master calls
Please don't let go
From hand I fall
Must this be so?

Down I fall
Through dark and deep
Toward fire
And never ending sleep

The fire, it melts
My soul destroyed
My hope is gone
Here comes the Void

For ever and after
Thus we remain
My master and I
No longer twain

~~ * ~~