Nilandia
07-17-2006, 04:34 AM
I finally was able to go through the scrolls and pages from this shop, and I was absolutely floored at the depth and beauty to these pieces. Took me a minute to tear myself from staring at the computer screen in awe. The Elven pieces are absolute poetry, exquisite in their beauty and too good not to post.
I'll pair them so the pieces can be compared between the languages. (I particularly loved that the Common was a Prayer and the Elven was an Appeal. Perfect for the Elven perspective.)
a small scarlet-inked scroll (Elven)
Appeal for Insight
My thoughts twist over one confusing point,
And, wounded, skitter to that point once more,
The blackened sear that halts my wildfire mind.
I ask your insight, Scholar, and anoint
Myself with all successes of the past
To show my worthiness, though charred and sore.
Great Scholar, let me conquer this at last!
a small scarlet-inked page (Common)
Prayer for Wisdom
I cannot stop obsessing over that which confuses me.
It is like a fire, all-consuming.
I pray You will show me the true way, Scholar,
For I have completed many ceremonies for Your favor,
Although I am tainted with blood and cannot do so now.
Holy Scholar, I beg You, make me victorious over confusion!
a fine ebony-bordered scroll (Elven)
Appeal for the Favor of Lumnis
The touch of death is not unknown to me.
From pain alone, my spirit does not quail,
But from that anguish-addled fantasy
That with my death, the ones I love will fail
And suffer. Lumnis, gift them with insight
Against the hour my day succumbs to night.
a fine ebony-bordered page (Common)
Prayer for the Favor of Lumnis
I have died before.
Pain does not frighten me,
But I am frightened because
If I pass beyond the Gates, my loved ones will suffer.
Lumnis, give them wisdom and protect them,
For someday, that darkness will come.
a gleaming pale grey scroll (Elven)
Appeal for Recognition by Peers
In full darkness, I sought out a flame
And nurtured it to drive the dark away,
But none have come to sit beside my fire.
Must they stumble? Here, I have a light
As bright as joy, as brilliant as the day,
But still in ignorance, my kinsmen stray.
Unveil their eyes, that this light may inspire
New wisdom, Mistress of the starry spire.
a gleaming pale grey page (Common)
Prayer for Admiration of Peers
In the darkness of ignorance, I found knowledge,
But none have come to hear what I have learned.
Why do they suffer still? I have such joy,
Like the brilliance of the dawn,
But everyone is lost in ignorance.
Let them see me clearly and come to learn from me;
Then Your wisdom will spread widely, star-crowned Goddess.
an illuminated green-bordered scroll (Elven)
Appeal for the Crippled
Where empathy in fullest flower failed
And every other healing art retreated,
Bring determination; teach new hope.
The way is hard now. Must all be defeated?
Luminous Scholar, gaze into the heart
And see that wisdom's spark is shining there,
And feed it till the bright, resplendent flame
Can be the beacon piercing through despair.
an illuminated green-bordered page (Common)
Prayer for a Crippled Man
Neither empaths nor any other physician could aid me.
Bring me strength of heart. Teach me hope again.
My path is hard. Has it ended already?
Glorious Scholar, look into my soul;
See that I have wisdom still,
And increase it until I no longer despair.
a silver-inked snow white scroll (Elven)
Appeal for a Musician's Survivors
Her string-wise fingers: death has made them still.
Her quick performer's eye is closed and blind.
Her hungry life has reached a final fill,
And we, surviving, linger on behind.
Inspire us when we take up her song --
Let every chord and resonance be right
So that the art she loved will not be lost
Although we lose her into boundless night.
a silver-inked snow white page (Common)
Prayer for a Musician's Companions After Her Death
The musician's skillful fingers will never play again.
The performer's knowing eyes are closed now.
She has eaten her last meal,
And we are still living.
When we sing her songs in her absence, inspire us --
Help us to make every chord and melody right
So that what she sang will not be dead
Although she has passed beyond the Gates.
a black-inked vellum scroll (Elven)
Appeal of the Dying Scholar
The carbuncle rests heavy on my brow.
My sight grows weak, my skeleton grows frail,
And understanding this, I freely will
My incomplete life's work to Lumnis now.
Though blood and flesh and sight will surely fail,
Transcendent, this is trusted to your skill:
I die, but when I do, do not allow
My studies to be lost along with me.
a black-inked vellum page (Common)
Prayer of the Dying Scholar
Old age is a burdensome scarlet ferronniere.
I cannot see well, and my bones are fragile.
Because I know this, I willingly dedicate
All of the work that I cannot finish to Lumnis.
I know that I will die, but I trust You, Goddess,
To ensure that my work will not enter the grave at my side.
a gold-inked ivory scroll (Elven)
Appeal of the Living Scholar
Devotion to my craft: my only crown.
Excelling in that craft: my only bride,
And yet I do not walk bereft of love
If you, great Teacher, linger at my side.
Mist-wreathed, Drake-wedded, ancient, calm, and wise:
May I be crowned and wedded in your eyes.
a gold-inked ivory page (Common)
Prayer of the Living Scholar
I am no monarch, unless I rule my craft.
It is the only thing I truly love,
But I will not be lonely
In Your company, mighty Teacher.
In serenity, in age, in presence, You are akin the mists of Your garb.
Just as You are beloved of Koar, who transcends the other Gods and Goddesses,
May I be beloved of Your gaze, You who transcend me.
I'll pair them so the pieces can be compared between the languages. (I particularly loved that the Common was a Prayer and the Elven was an Appeal. Perfect for the Elven perspective.)
a small scarlet-inked scroll (Elven)
Appeal for Insight
My thoughts twist over one confusing point,
And, wounded, skitter to that point once more,
The blackened sear that halts my wildfire mind.
I ask your insight, Scholar, and anoint
Myself with all successes of the past
To show my worthiness, though charred and sore.
Great Scholar, let me conquer this at last!
a small scarlet-inked page (Common)
Prayer for Wisdom
I cannot stop obsessing over that which confuses me.
It is like a fire, all-consuming.
I pray You will show me the true way, Scholar,
For I have completed many ceremonies for Your favor,
Although I am tainted with blood and cannot do so now.
Holy Scholar, I beg You, make me victorious over confusion!
a fine ebony-bordered scroll (Elven)
Appeal for the Favor of Lumnis
The touch of death is not unknown to me.
From pain alone, my spirit does not quail,
But from that anguish-addled fantasy
That with my death, the ones I love will fail
And suffer. Lumnis, gift them with insight
Against the hour my day succumbs to night.
a fine ebony-bordered page (Common)
Prayer for the Favor of Lumnis
I have died before.
Pain does not frighten me,
But I am frightened because
If I pass beyond the Gates, my loved ones will suffer.
Lumnis, give them wisdom and protect them,
For someday, that darkness will come.
a gleaming pale grey scroll (Elven)
Appeal for Recognition by Peers
In full darkness, I sought out a flame
And nurtured it to drive the dark away,
But none have come to sit beside my fire.
Must they stumble? Here, I have a light
As bright as joy, as brilliant as the day,
But still in ignorance, my kinsmen stray.
Unveil their eyes, that this light may inspire
New wisdom, Mistress of the starry spire.
a gleaming pale grey page (Common)
Prayer for Admiration of Peers
In the darkness of ignorance, I found knowledge,
But none have come to hear what I have learned.
Why do they suffer still? I have such joy,
Like the brilliance of the dawn,
But everyone is lost in ignorance.
Let them see me clearly and come to learn from me;
Then Your wisdom will spread widely, star-crowned Goddess.
an illuminated green-bordered scroll (Elven)
Appeal for the Crippled
Where empathy in fullest flower failed
And every other healing art retreated,
Bring determination; teach new hope.
The way is hard now. Must all be defeated?
Luminous Scholar, gaze into the heart
And see that wisdom's spark is shining there,
And feed it till the bright, resplendent flame
Can be the beacon piercing through despair.
an illuminated green-bordered page (Common)
Prayer for a Crippled Man
Neither empaths nor any other physician could aid me.
Bring me strength of heart. Teach me hope again.
My path is hard. Has it ended already?
Glorious Scholar, look into my soul;
See that I have wisdom still,
And increase it until I no longer despair.
a silver-inked snow white scroll (Elven)
Appeal for a Musician's Survivors
Her string-wise fingers: death has made them still.
Her quick performer's eye is closed and blind.
Her hungry life has reached a final fill,
And we, surviving, linger on behind.
Inspire us when we take up her song --
Let every chord and resonance be right
So that the art she loved will not be lost
Although we lose her into boundless night.
a silver-inked snow white page (Common)
Prayer for a Musician's Companions After Her Death
The musician's skillful fingers will never play again.
The performer's knowing eyes are closed now.
She has eaten her last meal,
And we are still living.
When we sing her songs in her absence, inspire us --
Help us to make every chord and melody right
So that what she sang will not be dead
Although she has passed beyond the Gates.
a black-inked vellum scroll (Elven)
Appeal of the Dying Scholar
The carbuncle rests heavy on my brow.
My sight grows weak, my skeleton grows frail,
And understanding this, I freely will
My incomplete life's work to Lumnis now.
Though blood and flesh and sight will surely fail,
Transcendent, this is trusted to your skill:
I die, but when I do, do not allow
My studies to be lost along with me.
a black-inked vellum page (Common)
Prayer of the Dying Scholar
Old age is a burdensome scarlet ferronniere.
I cannot see well, and my bones are fragile.
Because I know this, I willingly dedicate
All of the work that I cannot finish to Lumnis.
I know that I will die, but I trust You, Goddess,
To ensure that my work will not enter the grave at my side.
a gold-inked ivory scroll (Elven)
Appeal of the Living Scholar
Devotion to my craft: my only crown.
Excelling in that craft: my only bride,
And yet I do not walk bereft of love
If you, great Teacher, linger at my side.
Mist-wreathed, Drake-wedded, ancient, calm, and wise:
May I be crowned and wedded in your eyes.
a gold-inked ivory page (Common)
Prayer of the Living Scholar
I am no monarch, unless I rule my craft.
It is the only thing I truly love,
But I will not be lonely
In Your company, mighty Teacher.
In serenity, in age, in presence, You are akin the mists of Your garb.
Just as You are beloved of Koar, who transcends the other Gods and Goddesses,
May I be beloved of Your gaze, You who transcend me.