Letter to Bashir Khatara, Narwen Alendiel, and the Organizers of the Feast

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

Subat 15, IY 7787

Esteemed Bashir,

We have had little opportunity to speak of late, but I must commend your diligence in the preparations of the Feast of B'aara. On that point, I have been informed that you have sought submissions of verse befitting the occasion.

I present my own, below, for your consideration. I would be glad to recite it if I am able to be present, otherwise, to have Acolyte Narwen recite or sing it. It speaks to the creation of Life in the world by the Holy Mother. A recounting in verse of Her most sacred act. Its tentative title is: "The Sable Cloak".

The world through formless age abides;
A sun-baked landscape's barren guise;
And scorching light will not provide;
An answer in worthy reprise.

Upon this lifeless, base expanse;
The Wheel decended, theirs to know;
What should be wrought of this mischance;
And how to mark time's ebb and flow.

Among them foremost kindly heart;
Was wracked with pain to see that there;
Were none to share in sights apart;
From those divines beneath the glare.

O wept she there at canyon's head;
That deep, abiding, lasting pain;
She felt within most holy dread;
B'arra looked close to Her domain.

And found her suff'ring there had wrought;
A river wide, and something more;
For Life abided with Her thought;
Upon Edutu's mighty shore.

But Pra'raj spread Its curs-ed might;
And cast Its rays in power fell;
To slay Her charge within Its sight;
Return the world to lifeless spell.

But "No!" Said She, compassion's soul;
"My sable cloak shall shield them here;
And I shall burn that they walk whole;
Into this world with meaning dear."

The Enemy could not o'ercome;
Through pain and fire, Mother braved;
To give to Kula's Wyld sight;
The Garden's seed that She had saved.

She joins Her wholesome, thankful peers;
The Wheel takes up Her burden long;
And joy joins suff'ring's sacred tears;
For verdant green shall sing Her song.

I hope it suits the occasion well.

Acolyte Amelie

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

[The letter is received. Seated on a most comfortable couch, the recipient sways to the sides as he reads, cooing soft "aahs" and "oohs" like an excited pigeon. A tightly sealed inkwell shakes on the coffee table in front of him. Yet more ordinary ink is reached for, as the Scribe begins copying the verse over to two parchments in a diligent manner.]