A Sign

by Joy Song

"SEND US A SIGN," THEY CRIED ALOUD,

"THAT WAR AND DEATH ARE OVER!"

A RAINSOAKED CHILD SHIVERS WITH COLD.

SHE LIVES: THE SOLE SURVIVOR.

TERRIBLY SHINE HER HAUNTED EYES

TOO BRIGhTLY IN THE COLD.

ALONE, SHE SITS AND NEVER CRIES,

TOO YOUNG WITH FACE SO OLD.

AN HEIRESS TO A HOUSE OF FEAR

SHE WAITS FOR LIFE TO END,

TO JOIN THE RANKS OF NEWLY DEAD

AND FIND HER YOUTH AGAIN.

LIES HAD FOUND THEIR CHOSEN ONE

SOME GENERATIONS PAST.

AND NOW A CHILD OF HATRED NEARS

THEIR CHOSEN FATE AT LAST.

A PEBBLE'S BOUNCE DOES SHAKE THE AIR

WITHIN THE WAR TORN HALL.

SHE LOOKS UP CALMLY, EXPECTING NOW

THE BLOW OF DEATH TO FALL.

SHE HAD SUNG HER PASSING CHANT

OUT SOFTLY UNTIL NOW,

BUT NEW FORMED NOTES HUNG IN THE AIR

LIKE A NEWLY BROKEN VOW.

"PLEASE SING AGAIN FOR ME," HE BEGS,

A BOY OF DULCET VOICE.

"BUT NOT OF DEATH, I PRAY YOU

LET BEAUTY BE YOUR CHOICE."

"WHAT KNOW YOU OF MY MISERY?"

HER DIGNITY DEMANDS.

HER SPIRIT LIFTS IN OUTRAGE CHILL,

"WHAT KNOW YOU OF THESE LANDS?"

"MY FATHERS AND YOURS FOUGHT, YOU KNOW.

YOU STOLE MY ROYAL RIGHT.

WHAT SONG COULD A CHILD OF DAYLIGHT TEACH

TO THE PRINCESS-HEIR OF NIGHT?"

THE SWEET FACED BOY STILL HOLDS HER GAZE.

HER EYES ARE ICY LAKES.

AND WITH A SMOOTH AND PRINCELY MANNER

HER ICE COLD HAND HE TAKES.

"MANY SONGS I KNOW," HE SAYS.

"AND NOT ALL OF JOY."

AND THEN HE SHOWS HIS WELL SCARRED HANDS:

THEY'RE NOT THE HANDS OF A BOY.

"YOU DID NOT HEAR, BUT WHEN YOU SANG,

YOU CALLED DEATH TO THIS HALL.

HE MARCHED IN WHITE AND READY

TO TAKE YOUR LIFE AND ALL.

I CHALLENGED HIM AND OFFERED TO

REPLACE YOU IN HIS CHAINS.

WHILE YOU SAT BROODING IN THIS DARK

AND WAITING IN THE RAIN.

BUT I, THOUGH A BOY, AM A WARRIOR FELL,"

HE BOWS AND STAUNCHLY CLAIMS.

"AND NOW YOU ARE HERE TO TELL THE TALE?"

HER LOOK GROWS STRANGELY TAME.

THOUGH SHE WILLS HER PRIDE RETURN

AND HAUGHTINESS, AND CHILL,

SOMETHING WITHIN THAT CHILD OF NIGHT

CANNOT OBEY HER WILL.

SHE BRUSHES HER MASS OF RAVEN HAIR

BACK BEHIND HER SHOULDER

AS DRIPPING BITS OF DEW TELL CLEAR

OF SILENCE GROWING OLDER.

"WHY?", SHE WHISPERS, EYES WIDE WITH FEAR

OF THE PRICE HE COULD REQUIRE.

"WHY DO THIS FOR YOUR ENEMY?

GO I NOW TO THE FIRE?

UNLESS YOUR HEART IS MADE OF STONE

YOU WOULD HAVE LET ME DIE,"

SHE RANTS ON, PLEADS TO ESCAPE REVENGE

AND THE IMAGE IN HER MIND.

FEAR HAS RULED HER LIFE SO LONG

SHE FEELS HER STORY SEALED,

BUT THE BOY'S STRONG HANDS DO MAKE HER LONG

FOR HER SOUL TO BE HEALED.

SHE TRIES TO STEEL HERSELF AGAINST

THE LEANINGS OF HER HEART,

FOR HIS EYES HAVE SOMEHOW CAPTURED IT,

AT LEAST SOME HIDDEN PART.

SUDDENLY, HER CRIMES STAND OUT

SO STARKLY IN HER MIND

THAT DEATH BY HIS HAND, AND JUSTICE

SEEMS ALTOGETHER, KIND.

THE KINDLY BOY, SO FAIR OF FACE,

LETS HER RANTINGS DIE,

AND WHEN SHE'S DONE, WITH GAZE OF SUN,

HE HOLDS ONCE MORE HER EYE.

A THORNLESS ROSE HE GIVES TO HER;

HE PLAITS IT IN HER HAIR.

HE TAKES HER HAND AND KISSES IT

GENTLY, WITH LITTLE FLAIR.

THE SUN SHINES DOWN THROUGH THE DEWY AIR,

AND WIND AND BIRDS ABOVE

SING OF BEAUTY WITH THE BOY

"YOU'LL NEVER DIE, MY LOVE."