Poems of Slessanaa the Druid

[Pseudonym]

feed

with claw and fang
I am the wolf

with talon and beak
I am the hawk

with hand and tooth
I am the man

feed
and know life

this shell I wear
this body, this flesh,
Skin, feathers, scale and fur

I close my eyes
to know an inherent truth

How truth is not this form
all you know may not be so.

So feed
with fang
with beak
with tooth
sustain this form,
this alien flesh

feed of the animal
of the leaf, of the fruit
of the earth, of  the root
feed to remember
from whence you came

rip
tear
eat

and know life


// Basic starter quests

[Pseudonym]

Wolf

Silent,  stealth and power made flesh
not the whisper of a sound,
Imbued with the strength of the Great Oak
tread soft and silent, barely touching the ground.

Stalking natures gifts
hesitation ever so slightly,
Need, the circle of life, all has a place
No gift taken lightly.

Imperceptible movement through trees
suggestion of presence, steaming breath,
Wait, abide, calm reflection
no glory sought in the death.

Haunches rise and fall
joining of fur and earthen path,
Here was home, here was place
here was knowing, here was hearth.

The glowing eye above
sheds ghostly light upon orders bane,
The great cycle continues
gramercy to preys final wane

// discovers wildshape

[Pseudonym]

silver fish in stream
shadow cast by eagle wing
form begins to drift


// First interaction with druid/shifter Nyeaeana

[Pseudonym]

My song is the song of the oak
this Truth causes my isolation
yet, in the silence, I dicover many truths

I am warrior
without shackle, without blame
I am Man, I am Wolf, I am Bear
I am charged to protect my brothers and sisters

Talon, tooth, claw and blade

The peak of a great Mountain
there soars a once mighty eagle
There are no complaints from his wounds
he lays his noble head down
and dies
blood flowing, renewing

In the square stone prisons we create
we are chained
No claim, no connection
Truth obscured by greed and excess

At the peak of a great Mountain
an exhausted wolf stands and seeks
broken and bruised
broken heart searching for the answer to dreams

The answer
No pride
No jealousy
No lust
No greed
No anger

Cold winter snow
Your brother returns to the Mountain
He returns for nourishment
Is here found the answer?

// *a promise, an opportunity*

[Pseudonym]

I am the eagle soaring upon high
I am the wind through the leaves
I am the foam upon the shore
I am sunlight, feeding your hunger
I am rain, quenching your thirst
I am seed, I am flower, I am dust
I am the strength of the bear, the speed of the wolf
I am the cunning of the fox
I am the majesty of the eagle
I am the eternity of the mountain
I am friend, foe and more
I am he who serves the Great Oak
I am the change of seasons
Birth, Death and the journey
I am he who changes the ephemeral cloak


// This poem is influenced/inspired by perhaps the most famous piece of Druidic poetry ever written. It was allegedly uttered by the druid Amergin when he first set foot on the green lands of Ireland.

I am the wind on the sea
I am the wave of the sea
I am the bull of seven battles
I am the eagle on the rock
I am a flash from the sun
I am the most beautiful of plants
I am a strong wild boar
I am a salmon in the water
I am a lake in the plain
I am the word of knowledge
I am the head of the spear in battle
I am the God that puts fire in the head
Who spreads light in the gathering on the hills?
Who can tell the ages of the moon?
Who can tell the place where the sun rests?

[Pseudonym]

Wolf
Looking up through the branches
I see a glimpse of grey skies
clouds heavy with rain and foreboding

Bear
Looking straight through the branches
I see no sign of prey
thoughts heavy with hunger and despair

Eagle
Looking down through the branches
I see barren plain, withered crop
wings heavy with fatigue and weariness

Man
Looking and seeing no branches
I see nameless faces, grey stone walls
soul heavy with loss and the glimpse of perdition

// dark times ... worse to come

[Pseudonym]

Thin Layer

He regards his skin, water thin
fingers, thumb, knuckles, nails
back across the plain of his palm
Mountain pollex

Skin vessel
I scratch with a nail
underneath, muscle, bone, blood
the bag tumbles to the ground

Skin vessel
I scratch with a nail
layers removed, truth revealed
red centre, ochre earth

Skin vessel
I scratch with a nail
digging, digging to the earthen core
The earth is stubborn and afraid

Skin vessel
I scratch with a nail
forest, river, plain, mountain
roots in the same earth

// more shape options

[Pseudonym]

glossy raven soars
green snake finds the warmth of den
wolf stalks his quarry