Merlin

ONE

Black is the hand of heaven, blue and black,

and filled with frozen stars.

And stars and stars and stars… and stars.

Who are you, lord?

What is your name? Why do you look at me so?

Have you never seen a man disembowelled?

Have you never seen a living corpse?

Black is the day. Black is the night.

And black the hand that covers me.

Deep in Celyddon's black heart I hide.

In a forest pool I glimpse the face

beneath the antlered helm,

and I stare.

I stare until the stars stream overhead.

The red moon screams.

The birds and wild creatures take flight at my coming.

The trees taunt me. The flowers of the high meadows turn their

faces from me.

The crooked glens echo sharp accusation.

The racing waters mock me…

Rain and wind, blast and blow, snow and sun.

Bright fire of the sun. Silver moon glow.

Silver water from the soul of the mountain.

Sing fair stars of heaven! Lift your voices,

Children of the Living God!

Sharp as spearpoints are your shining songs. Life and death are they to me.

Ave! Ave, Imperator!

Listen to the bleak wind howl through your

empty halls.

Listen, High One! Hear the bones of the brave

rattle in nameless graves.

King Eagle, attend your offspring;

lift your hand and sustain them

with the crumbs of your

banquet hall.

They hunger for justice; they weep.

Only the King of Eagles can ease their craving.

Rivers flow and waters rise.

See fast ships fly over the sea.

Away, away… always away.

Take flight, my soul, away.

What is it that remains when life is gone?

How much of a man endures?

Like a beast among beasts I go.

Naked,

feeding only on the roots of the field,

drinking only rain,

I am a man no more.

Broken rocks bruise my flesh, cold winds wrack

my sorry bones.

I am undone!

I am as one cast out from the hearth of my kinsmen.

I am as one living in the shadowlands.

I am as the dead.

Shall I sing the seasons?

Shall I sing the ages of our Earth,

the days of men past and yet to come?

Shall I sing fair Broceliande?

Shall I sing drowned Llyonesse?

Pwyll, bring the Hero's Cup!

Mathonwy, bring my harp!

Taliesin, wrap your bright cloak around my shoulders!

Lieu, gather your people into your bright hall!

For I shall sing the Kingdom of Summer!

Mad Merlin… mad… you are mad Merlin… mad…