Abide With Me

Bereft

'Twas a grim dark night, cloudy and oppressive,
no stars in sight.

A voice arose from the darkness,
Plaintive and powerful;
'Twas as if the very air held its breath,
So as not to disturb his song.

The velvet voice spun a tale, Of love, laughter and parting.
The sorrow it carried, cut to the quick,
No eye was left dry within hearing.

*****

Golden eyes, golden Heart
Ah, my Soulmate, we're ripped apart
Unbearable loss, where do I start
Why did Fate my happiness thwart?

Silver eyes, silver skies
Silver clouds, silver moon
Silver tears, Hush! My fears
I'll join him soon, my Hanguang Jun!

Dark clouds, nothing in sight
Hope, hidden, is present
Noir, no starlight tonight
But there's a silver crescent!

As I follow memory's trail,
Now heavy, my heart grows frail
Eyes search for a face pale -
My Jade! Selena, keep him hale!

This parting, and not knowing
His whereabouts, his well-being
He fell! Is he hurt? I'm crying.
'Don't fall apart!' they say, I'm trying...

This silent uninhabited isle
Two jars of Emperor's Smile
Under a Ghost tree I tarry awhile
My heart retraces many a mile.

*****

I was but sixteen, when we met
My eyes were stars, I can't forget
That moment in time our destinies met
The path to Gusu, memory reset.

Pristine persona, faultless face
Sensuous stride, gauntlet gaze
Perfect posture, intense intellect
Mystic music, Lord of Lan sect.

His silent disapproval swiftly riled me
The Rules, rigid, Grandmaster reviled me
His anger, attention, totally beguiled me
My punishment, the Library, mischief defiled me.

I plagued him with chatter
The topic didn't matter
His presence, his calm, his being enough
Eliciting even the word "Mn" was tough!

His strength, his skill, his talent
Was he my friend? Feeling ambivalent
To irk him, tease him, shock him: so easy
His glance of approval, for that I'm crazy!

That first night, dark but starry
From my travels I was weary
Two jars, Emperor's Smile did I carry
For Clan Rules I didn't tarry.

A gentle tap opened puny wards
I leapt across the wall, no guards
Easy, I thought, moving forwards
Alas! Lan Zhan's patrolling yards.

Eyes, he gave an icy glare
Lips, words saw his anger flare
Hands, gripping, blue sword glare
I gulped, wondering how I'd fare.

"Alcohol is prohibited in Cloud Recesses"
His brow, dark as those gorgeous tresses
He's stunning! ( keep looking),
my heart rejoices
He's talented, skilled fighter, as Bichen emphasizes.

His sword thrusts keenly, I dodge
Prince parries, I fall to earth, a hodge*
He hovers above the roof, smirking,
I soar up beside, I'm laughing!

Scabbard held firm, his other arm strikes,
I cartwheel out of reach, we're crikes*
He can't hurt me, I won't touch him
He's swift, but I'm supple, in good trim!

He swipes and lunges,
He fades and plunges
His sword a blur, his feet are magic
I'm nimble, a fall could be tragic!

My eyes dare him to come at me
Suibian still sheathed, my hands not free
My precious jars, at the eye of the storm
He leaps to action, fluid each sword form.

Leaping, twirling, rising, evading
My every move, he countered marauding
Edge of that roof, I mis-stepped, flailing
Alas, Bichen sent my jars crashing!