After re-reading A Wizard of Earthsea recently, by Ursula K. Le Guin, I wished to somehow capture my relationship with the main character. Or more, somehow capture how he presented himself to me this time around. He was always the ultimate hero to me as a youth. He is that now to me as an adult but for entirely different reasons. Sometimes, the mirror shines brighter the deeper the scars it reflects.
I am the shadow beast
Unleashed upon this world.
Headless, heedless
Morphing darkness
Fear-instilled, I walk.
Unbidden, unseen
but felt at every turn,
and no one can tell me
how to chain this
mysterious, formless
thing.
I turn and there its form I see
We gaze toward --
and into
and through
and beyond, within
each other
Speak to me, horrid creature,
beast of my doom.
Reach out to me with
darkened arms my own.
I see you for who you are,
dread shadowed-beast
and I name you.
powerless.
Deep my doom
and deeper still
the Powers.
Ereth-Akbe in all his wisdom
and might
could match
the darkest powers within.
Driving and driven
I pursue
I chase
I find
I name
and I, who forever
scarred shall be,
stand.
I am uncertain and I am free
Here, now, no
longer bound
Forever marred
By this creature’s claws.
When I collide that day
with me
I become who I am
and change my deadened
Trajectory.
I am the shadow beast
Unleashed upon this world.
Headless, heedless
Morphing darkness
Fear-instilled, I walk.
Unbidden, unseen
but felt at every turn,
and no one can tell me
how to chain this
mysterious, formless
thing.
I turn and there its form I see
We gaze toward --
and into
and through
and beyond, within
each other
Speak to me, horrid creature,
beast of my doom.
Reach out to me with
darkened arms my own.
I see you for who you are,
dread shadowed-beast
and I name you.
powerless.
Deep my doom
and deeper still
the Powers.
Ereth-Akbe in all his wisdom
and might
could match
the darkest powers within.
Driving and driven
I pursue
I chase
I find
I name
and I, who forever
scarred shall be,
stand.
I am uncertain and I am free
Here, now, no
longer bound
Forever marred
By this creature’s claws.
When I collide that day
with me
I become who I am
and change my deadened
Trajectory.