I apologize to the master poet from whom I borrowed the foundation for
the first couple lines.

-----
She walks in Shadow, like the night
Who once knew only brightened skies
And moved in dappled forest light,
Innocent wards beneath her eyes:
A realm now fallen into blight
For this, her duty, she denies.

Refined by plague in younger years,
Her purpose all the more defined
With strength of will and heart so pure:
Innocent fledglings hers to mind,
Prevent the lust of hate and fears
To taint the beauty of their kind

And how she loved her tiny birds
Newborn, yet graceful, needing aid
They sensed her love through senseless words
Never knowing the home they made
There in those fruitful, rich orchards
Would see twilight, would be betrayed

She walked in Silence, like the snake
Among fair trees her hands had wrought
And wicked thirst she watched him slake
She turned away, his deeds forgot
So quickly came her vile mistake
When that trespass she noted not

Serpent Tongue joined her feathered wards
Deceived, her children, led astray
Spiritless victims of discord
Some gave in, some for help yet prayed
In disbelief, the girl ignored
And watched her ordered world decay

Fertile orchards by him defiled
Her students devotion cast out
Blindly upon the snake she smiled
Imagining him most devout
The snake did hold the girl beguiled
And lies and shadow spread about

She walks in Shadow, like the night
Who once knew only brightened skies
And moved in dappled forest light,
Innocent wards beneath her eyes:
A realm now fallen into blight
For this, her duty, she denies


Penned by my hand on the 14th of Miraman, in the year 418 AF.