Barrows and Burns

[written_leaves]

The Ae Freislighe is an Irish syllabic stanza form, and this is an attempt to render one in English:

Barrows

The Barrow Downs lie in the mist,
The wreathing wisps grasp the stones,
Call me now a pessimist
But this cold reminds of bones.

Long ago they fell beneath,
Dark the shades that crept within,
Heavy gold they shall bequeath,
Entrapping weight to stiffen.

Why did we stop, unthinking?
Now my plaintive cry resounds,
Answered only in clinking,
Far beneath the Barrow Downs.

--
With it I'm placing a trio in the form of a Burns Stanza, named for the pattern favored by the famous Robert Burns.


Not for Thee (Eowyn's Hurt)

Upon hilltop they came, a-four,
I saw them come, as none before -
Authority he yet brought forth;
Ring and stone and bright blade.
Heart-full I gazed, desired him more;
Glory released my fate.

Darksome these days! Parted from me,
Storm-eyed his gaze, 'twas not to be.
Harden I must, bend not to thee,
Stiff-backed rode he away.
I'll numb my heart to set it free,
Drown in a blacker day.

-

Eowyn Heals

Upon wall-top, mid garden green,
No finer one I've ever seen,
Beyond past hurts, this now my dream:
Gentle, Steward-Captain.
Taking my hand, his love redeems,
Starr'd mantle blue I'm wrapped in.

-

Grima's View

My dream, she'll know; my worth she'll see,
Intelligence, nobility.
One day a King my fate will be,
And not by trammeled hutch.
Power has put its faith in me,
Yet she shrinks from my touch.