[A thick letter sent to Estellise]

[Don Nadie]

Admired Estellise,

Flower of the Eagle's Mount,

Pride of the Elegant Fountains,

Envy of the Lithe Palm Trees,

Thorn of the Water-Gardens,

Black and Boisterous Bush of the Belligerant Barricades,

Deserving Winner of Estellise's Bounty,

Concern Upon the Brow of Foes Beyond this Realm,

Thorough Pageant of Unending Grace,

Envy of the Sultan's Concubines,

Daring Nemesis of the Sandstone College,

Beholder Upon the Precipice of the Futures to Come,

Peerless Djinni-Exorcist of Thorough Expertise,

[The ephithets run for several more pages of unending, highly exaggerated praise, before the letter actually starts]

As promised, please see attached a first draft of the poem you requested. I would love to have your input. I have a slight concern over the last four verses, for I wonder if it is in bad taste to remind him of his... Encounter with dangerous,  name-hungry creatures.

Should it satisfy, I shall seek a time and place to perform it before its subject.

Yours, in humble awe of your neverending wondrous wonderment,

Alejandro Benjazar

[hide]

THE ORBITING APOTHAR

Twirl, twist a-twirling
an Apothar goes.
Woundrous a-whirling
his folly now shows.

What madness most sterling
may spin in his head?
Is sanity erased
in gyrating dread?

Oh, fearful he swirls
in blue robes of Pride,
without humbling pivots
he won't be a good guide.

The turns of the Wheel
remember he ought,
lest he roll downhill
as power is sought.

While round-round he orbits
his lithe little frame
his face, under mirror,
will not hide his shame.

[/hide]

[cmenden]

Dear Alejandro,

I enjoy this work and think it is suitable for my needs, but I haven't noticed Cosine rotating nearly as often.

Have you? If so, then I think it is perfect as-is. If not, a different approach may be needed, or the poem could be adjusted to speak to his time as a Nadiri.

Regards,
Estellise

[Don Nadie]

S/ra Estellise,

It has been fixed following your feedback - and delivered as expected.

He said it was a good poem and I am sure he was suitably humbled.

Yours,

Alejandro Benjazar