Disclaimer: I love the Dune series far too much to ever want to weasel ill-gotten money from it. Therefore…I'll just show my appreciation by writing the occasional character study poem.

Author's Note: I'm starting with Alia, because she caught my eye when I got to the second half of the first book in the series, and she's held my imagination ever since. I hope I do her justice with this poetic one-shot.


Alia's Song

Am I the abomination?

*

For two years I traveled the sand,

And now I hear your reprimand.

For two years I lived on this earth,

Now you shun my unwanted birth.

*

Am I the abomination?

*

I have known of a thousand lives,

Played the part of a thousand wives;

Nursed the mouths of a thousand babes,

And wept over a thousand graves.

*

Am I the abomination?

*

You have Paul, you need no other.

Would you kill me, Reverend Mother?

Shall I be a daughter unknown,

Dead before I was fully grown?

*

Am I the abomination?

*

You shriek at me to leave your mind.

What do you think that I might find?

I'm much like you, yet not the same.

Now tell the Emperor my name.

*

Am I the abomination?

*

Plans within plans, and planned attacks

To get your Kwisatz Haderach.

You did your part so very well,

So why do you curse me to hell?

*

Am I the abomination?

*

Two little years, a Pre-born's life;

To be the Saint of this crysknife.

You have lived so very longer,

Yet today I was the stronger.

*

Now tell me…

…Am I the abomination?