GS Poetry Library
HIGH PRIESTESS
by
Jerome Brooke
* * *
High Priestess
Goddess of Jade, Lee Su, cruel messenger of death,
Behold your servant.
Your maiden sings the pleas, promises of your city,
Offerings, she brings.
Bali, Isle of the Lost, fair land of the Lady,
Remembers the Goddess.
Bali, of the sea of storms, dark with gales,
Sends your priestess.
Angel of Death, the High Priestess dances,
Turning in her silk;
Servant of the Temple, covered in black robes,
Black cloth of Bali.
* * *
Prince of Mindanao
Prince of Mindanao, splendid in bronze,
Marching, so young, so pure.
Vassals bow before your horse, the warband,
Does salute you, bright in azure.
Gold and silver, robes of silk, gleaming bronze,
Vassals before you bow.
Girls beg for mere copper coins, peasants mutter,
Reap as you sow.
Bring the fire, young and immortal, dear one,
Prince of the lie.
Your arms will surely weaken, false friends,
You too will die.
Prince of Shades, see your lady, at your feet,
Captive of seeming.
Beauty she sees, a god among us, love gazes,
Love pure, fleeting.
Love below you, eyes of a peasant,
Girl in rags, low of the land.
Hate, envy, pity, all weave the web,
Pass on with your band.
* * *
War Leader
Through the waste marched the warriors,
Silent was the band.
In the swift, hot wind, were seen the men,
Quiet in the sand.
Gold, red gold, at their feet, gems,
Cast far, far away.
Swords no longer shone, as on parade,
Dull this fearful day.
My prince looked, saw this lost line,
Lost, dead on this dark day.
Men of the Queen, lost by fate,
Found where they fell, and lay.
* * *
The Barren Waste
Mount, ride my Prince, son of our Queen,
Lead us to Gold.
Pale is the horse, the dim white horse,
That I now do hold.
Our Queen sent us here, to Cebu,
Most cruel land.
Here we stand, awaiting her command,
Take my hand.
Now you will be lost, silent and pale,
Son of the Queen.
Lead us to Cebu, Land of Gold,
Never to be seen.
* * *
Captain of Death
Dust fills the air, dust covers our ranks,
Over our silent band.
Water calls from the mirage, water of life,
Deep, under the sand.
Sell the gold to Cebu, send to their King,
Buy my life.
Bury the gems, hide the silver,
Won in strife.
Mad we are, mad in this barren waste,
Lost in burning sand.
Die, die we must in these rocks, in Cebu,
Our new won land.
Horses in the distance, pale horses;
Chariots of the South.
Gold, red gold, fills our hand,
Dust fills our mouth.
* * *
Captain of Death
Dust fills the air, dust covers our ranks,
Over our silent band.
Water calls from the mirage, water of life,
Deep, under the sand.
Sell the gold to Cebu, send to their King,
Buy my life.
Bury the gems, hide the silver,
Won in strife.
Mad we are, mad in this barren waste,
Lost in burning sand.
Die, die we must in these rocks, in Cebu,
Our new won land.
Horses in the distance, pale horses;
Chariots of the South.
Gold, red gold, fills our hand,
Dust fills our mouth.
* * *
Sea
Ador, Lady with the dark, fatal eyes,
Sing now of the swift, troubled seas.
Weep no longer for the black river,
Flowing down to the distant waves.
Sail through the distant mist,
Mist of time, mist of dying souls.
* * *
C Jerome Brooke