The Ulangar: Book I, Part 10

This continues the epic I wrote between 1991 and 1996.

The oasis was warm with a cool breeze

blowing through the tall tropical trees

rustling the leaves like

the sound of a sea at low tide or as

water sprays into the heavens

to drop onto sandy beaches

The pool of water by these trees

had tiny ripples curling over its surface

making noises on its journey none could hear

too gentle was that summer zephyr

to summon a water sound

Next to that Ahto element

was a field of grass and trees

Next to that was a pool of sand

from whence now did a head rise

The head grew shoulders and then a chest

and then a waist and then a pair of legs

to end with feet in full height of a man

naked with roots in his callused hands

He deposited the roots in Tree

to join with the orange orchids

Ulangar felt his energy sapped

weakened from spilling on frivolous rugs

The meat on his bones hung limp as fish

rotting on lines strung out in the sky

having not rested his gems for many a fortnight

So against Tree sat he

and rested his heavy head upon the Iron

and the jewels went dim

 

Lamaraz awoke on the sand

it was not cold as he expected it to be

He smelled carbon in the air

as black smoke rose into the heavens from the knoll

The spot of life in the field of lifelessness was burning

Racing up to the top of the oasis

Lamaraz saw the pool of water

burning in blue flame

the light which the gas of fossils gives when ignited

The grass and trees too were dancing in flame

like wheat waving in the wind

Lamaraz tried to knit prevention

but no wool did his Soul possess

So the fire licked its vile tongue about the sanctuary

in a lazy dance which moved from this spot to that spot

never returning to a once spent spot

But then he saw Tree

untouched by fire and heat

Beautiful emerald leaves glistened in the haze

and monotone solid Iron

refuge to the herbs

All rage and sorrow left him

leaving an empty cinder

He looked inside the womb of Tree

to see his herbs unharmed by flame

So Lamaraz settled down around Tree again

and Shai-Maât blessed his spirit with her breath