Obedience is all I require
And this – demanded of my sons –
Is signed and sealed in searing fire.
As love, indeed, my duty shuns
Gondor needs all, and takes my heart –
And this demanded of my sons.
Whatever I thought at the start
Now nothing else can fill my life –
Gondor needs all and takes my heart.
My children and my lady wife
Must come below this hard mistress -
Nothing else, now, can fill my life.
As around me all dark things press,
The love of those two grey-eyed boys
Must come below this hard mistress.
Unfailing trust then this destroys –
Obedience is all I require.
The love of those two grey-eyed boys
Is signed and sealed in searing fire.
***********
AN: (1) Definitely for Fileg – for sharing her talents so generously with
those of us who know little about writing poetry, for teaching me how to write
a terzanelle, for inspiring me with her incredible Denethor poem – Ascensions,
for being so unfailingly encouraging – and most of all for the I *heart*
Denethor t-shirt logo!
(2) Unlike Denethor I can't scan and I know it isn't a great poem.
I decided to post it though because I do like a couple of the images –
and I've decided I love terzanelles even if I can't write them really
;-) Criticism welcome – I have no illusions about my ability as a poet.