Notes: This was for a poetry project in Writing class. When I originally printed these, I had fonts that were specific to each character. I doubt that most people have the fonts already installed on their computer, but I linked to the correct font at the end of the poem. You can still read them without the correct font, but the poems (and the title) may be odd sizes.
Editor's Notes: These poems are all written by or about various characters from the world of Nhaein, hence the title. For those not familiar with these characters and their reasons for writing the following poems, I have included some notes to aid the reader's understanding. They are organized in the order they would have been written in.
Rheanna Lyn is a temperamental thief and lightning mage who marries Saranor Tyiathen, also a mage, who has learned to live with his wife's temper. Together, they have numerous children, including Sirniar, Avani, Aysel and Noven Tyiathen.
Sirniar Tyiathen is a bit of an odd fellow, for all that he heads the Academy. He has an interesting view of the world, hence his poem, "Ode to an Ode".
Avani Tyiathen, blind from birth, has added her thoughts in "Blindness". She is also an aamin - that is, someone gifted with telepathy and related gifts.
"Curses and Blessings" is a dramatic monologue by Aysel Tyiathen documenting her thoughts on her unusual abilities. She has twice the magic of any living person, but lacks the extended "mage-life" all other mages have.
After Saranor's death at Navakor's hands, Rheanna is distraught for a number of years, during which she writes "Elegy to Saranor".
Navakor Tyiathen, referenced above, has a well-deserved reputation as an evil mage. He is blind, and therefore does not really understand death until after he unintentionally kills Saranor, his son, while trying to kill Rheanna, Saranor's wife. Ayela Shakunturru, Navakor's daughter and Saranor's half sister, loves her father dearly, despite other's feelings for him, and writes "Elegy to Navakor" after his death.
Drandel'ahn is Noven's adoptive daughter who is one of few to see Noven's gentler side.
If more clarification is needed to fully appreciate these poems, please contact the editor. Thank you.
- [Hwesta Anulolinath], Editor
O wondrous ode!
Great glorious poem of worship!
How could we survive without your vaunting words of praise?
O awesome ode!
The world would be a duller place,
Without your veneration of one unspecified object.
O sensational ode!
Your glorification of the common man,
Makes the world so much brighter than before!
-Sirniar Tyiathen
A mage who only sees the vines and trees,
Has not the blessing loved by all her kin.
Her sight is gone; 'twas lost before her birth;
Instead 'twas given to her twin to use.
He helped her all their life until he met
A girl who stole his heart and him away.
The mage was left alone, her dark complete.
Without a brother taking care of her,
She sought and found another also blind,
Who taught her how to use her aamin skills.
With Navakor, the mage of dark renown,
She came into her own as aamin-mage,
Who only sees the shapes of all that lives.
-Avani Tyiathen
How long forgetting someone that you love?
How long until love dies out after death?
The memories will fade if not thought of,
The words not said upon their dying breath.
A marriage lasts 'til death doth tear apart,
But what about the one who's left behind?
No force doth stop the feelings of the heart,
And everything serves only to remind.
They say that time will heal all wounds and pain,
And maybe that is true; I cannot tell.
I only know that some things stay the same,
That years are not enough to say farewell.
Perhaps with time the pain will fade away,
But I am sure that it is here to stay.
-Rheanna Lyn Tyiathen
Dear Father,
You tried your best
in raising us.
You loved me
as best you could,
and I did what I could in return:
loved you back.
And now,
now you are gone.
Fallen victim to that which you did not understand,
Until the end.
The understanding killed you,
didn't it?
You couldn't bear knowing
what you had done.
I will weep for you father,
Even if no one else will.
-Ayela Shakunturru
Noven,
Almost father,
You always saw what no one else could
And taught me to see it too.
Others never understood,
Your means or your methods,
Though sometimes cruel,
Were fully justified.
Others never saw,
Anything but what you showed the world:
Cool, calculating, in control.
They never saw
The softer side of you,
That I saw, growing up.
Don't forget that side.
You need to be soft sometimes,
To be human,
And not a great leader.
Take care of yourself,
Father,
Noven.
-Drandel'ahn
October 1, 2006
Thoughts: I was actually quite surprised at how well these came out, considering how much poetry I usually write. I didn't inclue all of them here, since some were just terrible, but that I included this many must say something. "Ode to Saranor" is probably my favorite. I was quite proud of myself for getting the rhyme and meter to work, even if they aren't perfect. "Ode to an Ode" was fun to write, and the two free verse ones were really quick.