Sonnet.

1 First we name Alta, bourne up by the sea
2 islands splayed wide, hard shores clouded over
3 fat river tumbles between stone and tree,
4 meadow in sunlight, burst full with clover

5 Smooth-sail the line of deep marble stone
6 steep and impassable terror-filled nook
7 The island its center, welcoming home
8 travellers who sing a safe passage can brook

9 Stand on the clifftop with white caps below
10 and at your back salt-wind stirs reedy grass
11 stretch across prairie, wild seedling to sow
12 what land we would nurture ere it will pass

13 An’ creatures shall bless, by feet or by fin
14 an who adore Alta, beloved within

15 The second, Nier, for its high lofted perch
16 wide plains of An’noth where great beasts may roam
17 the grassland with visions under the birch
18 of the waves at each hand covered with foam

19 Vasa beneath, dank, so matted, and deep
20 Tebron sleeps soundless in eternal rest
21 Fearing his chambers, to sky land we keep
22 No roof on our heads, for bare stars are best

23 Cloaked warmly in dust clouds or under snow
24 heaven and horizon lay out our path
25 the upper bound, beaches; the cliffs, below
26 the mountains beside us offer no pass

27 Wand’rers and rangers with steeds will cross here
28 plain sound of hoofbeats will ring o’er Nier

29 The last is Fell-taga, fierce and austere
30 Cragg’d peaks and sharp valleys, rise and then fall
31 only the most hardy find purchase here
32 many that enter return, but not all

33 None shall rest easy here, no roaming herd
34 but magic’d or mystery find their place
35 broken by skitter or beat of bird
36 by all kind known the effect but not face

37 But rock has stark beauty, and from the peaks
38 though pained to ascend them a host will be
39 no greater sight than that to the heart speaks
40 new gloried spires that extend to the sea

41 domain of wizard and spider and dark
42 and bulky fell-taga hides zaz’s spark.

Leave a reply: