Holding Palaver
(A/N: This is just a long, freeform poem I wrote while I was reading Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah. It's about what Roland, the Last Gunslinger, might find if and when he reaches the top room of the Tower. It's very stream of consciousness. I hope everyone can make sense of it, and please don't forget to review!)
P.S. I know Roland is speaking like the Calla folken, but I wanted to differentiate the speech between the two characters. And please forgive me if my Old English is off!
Roland speaks in bold, the other in italic.
SPOILERS: Some major spoilers for books Five and Six
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Dark Tower series; it is strictly the brainchild of sai Stephen King!
"Hile, Gunslinger
Roland Deschain
of the Gilead that was."
"Hile, Boneman
ye know me well
say thankee."
"Thou art a descendant
of the Eld.
Art thou not?"
"Aye.
Ye speak true."
"Where then, pray tell
is the horn of thy ancestors?
The selfsame horn thou wast to sound
at the uppermost room of the Tower?"
"Hear me, I beg
the horn ye speak of was split in two;
lost in the battle
of Jericho Hill."
"The same Jericho Hill
where thy friends were slain
and thy kingdom lost;
where thou becamest the Last
and the First of the Last?"
"Aye.
That selfsame Hill."
"Why art thou unhappy, Gunslinger?
Thou hast fought thy way to the Tower
and thou hast won.
The Crimson King is no longer
and thou hast won."
"I have quested a thousand years
walked a thousand miles
killed a thousand men.
My mind grows weary
my body weak.
I am tired."
"Rest will come to thee
all in due time.
But for now,
enjoy the fruits of thy labor."
"Pray, tell me,
I beg,
How so?"
"Why, Gunslinger!
Hast thou forgotten
the purpose of thy quest?"
"...No."
"Look upon the boundless
field of roses!
Speak the names
of thy ka-tet of 19!
Forget not the face of thy father
and call his name to the heavens!"
"I want of these things
No more.
I want to save the Tower
I want to mourn
I want to rest!"
"Rest comes to those
with patience, Gunslinger!
But hast thou learned nothing?
Thee cannot save this Tower,
for thou dealst in lead...
...not majiks."
"Aye.
'Tis futile to speak of saving,
when it is written
that this Tower will fall."
"Yessss...
And as for mourning...
What, Gunslinger?
Dost thou feel guilt?"
"Aye.
This newfound guilt
runs through me
like poison worse
than that of the lobstrosities."
"Guilt for thy betrayals?
Guilt for the sacrifices
thou hast made
of thy ka-mates?"
"Aye.
Ye speak true."
"Every one of them
died by thy hand.
The priest, the beast,
the man, she of four faces,
and the boy;
who thee killed
not once
but twice."
"Please, stop.
I beg ye."
"What, does it hurt?
Is it painful?
Let us not forget
pretty Susan at the window.
Oh, how she burned!
I was there beside her
but where were thee?"
"Please, I beg ye
Stop."
"Can you bear it?
Is it heavy?
Let us not forget
little Jake at the Way Station
so innocent, so trusting
falling through the darkness
betrayed by the man he loved..."
"Stop. I beg ye.
Please."
"...and when he reached the bottom
of that hellish chasm
Oh! How his brains leaked upon the rocks!
I was there to take his soul
his fragile baby soul
But where were thee, Gunslinger?
Where were thee?"
"I beg ye...
Please..."
"Stop!
When I have yet to mention
Childe Mordred?
Corrupted by the King he was, true,
but he was conceived ofthy seed
Thyheir,thy child
murdered in cold blood
By his very father."
"No more.
I cannot bear it.
I cry their pardons.
I cry ALL their pardons!"
"Why dost thou cry, Gunslinger?
It is not tears they call for
nor thy hollow pardons.
Not tears
Blood.
Their souls call out,
hungry forTHY blood."
"Ye speak lies."
"The Boneman speaks not in lies
For what is more truthful
than Death Incarnate?"
"My friends,
my ka-mates
would not declare this.
They knew the dangers.
They knew what I had to DO!"
"None were the friend of thee, Gunslinger,
forthee plucked them from their worlds
and put weapons in their hands.
Thougavest them no choice
in the matter of their fates.
They call for the blood of the Gunslinger.
NONE were the friend of thee."
"In life,
they possessed none
of this animosity
this malice
this want of my blood."
"Death can change a man, Gunslinger."
"Then I am ready for that change.
I have sought ye for a thousand years.
I am tired.
Grant me rest.
I am ready for your bullet, Boneman."
"My bullet, Gunslinger?"
"Aye.
For I have lived
by the bullet.
Surely I die
by the bullet?"
"Thou thinkest too highly of thineself, Gunslinger.
Thou art not a savior.
Thou art a hell-bound desperado.
Thou art not a God.
Thou art a man with a gun.
And like any other man,
thou wilt die by the scythe...
...fare thee ill, Gunslinger."
FIN
:) : SmileVampy
(Please review! Tell me what ye thought!)
(Long days and pleasant nights.)