[Northkeep] the game

[Beth @ Stormreaver.net]

the splendor of yesterday's Castellan brought to mind this poem written by a
friend of mine many years ago.

The Game
By Kate Bertin, reprinted with her personal permission

Where are the heroes?
Lost in a sea
Of button down collars,
of faxes and phones,
Of traffic and meetings
And swimming-pool homes.

Why seek the heroic?
An outdated theme
Dimmed by the glitter
The lights and the glamour
Of power-mad robots
Without any dreams.

The dream it is fading
Of men who are strong
And women whose magic
Shores up the foundation
Of life in these lands -
Yes, heroes, the heroes are gone.

Why seek the heroic?
A need for the good
That slips through our fingers
Like moon's silver on waves.
Right actions, true friendship
Fall prey to "I should."

But there are a few
Who still dream of Great Deeds -
The honor, the glory
The chivalrous actions
Of knights in bright armor
On shining white steeds.

Those dreamers, though marked
With life's arrows and slings
Lift sword against carphones
And shield against freeways
Call waiting, networking
And cold hearts of stone.

So, for a few hours
Our fantasies reign -
A well-defined enemy,
Foul beasts to be slain
With courageous valor
Played out in The Game.


Thank you to the two Autocrats and the Feastocrat who worked so hard to
provide us with such a wonderful event. Thank you to those who volunteered,
who chopped, cooked, served, cleaned up, provided games and entertainment to
the children, who marshalled, who sang, who told tales, or who, by their
simple quiet presence, enhanced the environment for others.

It was a wonderful event, and I only wish I could have made it there earlier
in the day.

Thank you again,

zubeydah the wanderer