Survival
by Tien Riu
tienriu@yahoo.com.au

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Inspiration belongs to Samvimes and his two poems: "Bring Your Army" and "When I Come For You". In fact, blame goes to Sam as well since I'd never have started reading or writing poetry if it wasn't for his insidious writing skills. So if you enjoy it (or even if you don't), you should check out his stories - you can find a link on my profile page under 'recommended reading'.

Credit: JK Rowlings'. Samvimes. The multitude of writers who have begun to portray Slytherins and Severus Snape in lights other than black.

Extra note: Posting of this goes to Sam - because I was just going to show him what his poetry had made me do. He suggested I post it. And then some rather terrible real life things happened, which made me spend some time in front of the computer just - writing so I could forget about those real-life things. And thus - "When" and "Survival" make an appearance.

Warnings: Poetry. Need I say any more? [shakes head: Sam - I'm writing poetry. In the name of the holy slash muses, stop me!] View point of Severus Snape.

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You draw them with power
You pull them with magic
You lure them to your side
With promises of secrets and prestige.

You lie.

They will leave you
They will ignore your call
They will abandon your fight
Be deaf to the fire in your speech

The words that called one generation
Touches not the next

And you wonder why.

You think it is in winning
You think it is in victory
You think it is in pride
Bred into their pureblooded veins.

You are blind.

You recognise the dead
Feel the fear in the air
And this is your power
This is your tool

You never thought to ask why
we too looked at the Boy Who *Lived*

You do not understand

Not when you see their faces
But miss the invisible gaps:
The aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters
and nieces and nephews and friends never met never made

That you forget but we cannot

Slytherin is not winning
Slytherin is not achieving
Slytherin will never be simply *following*
Slytherin is not you, Albus Dumbledore
And it is no longer you Tom Riddle

Slytherin has become surviving.