He sings the song of a traitor’s death,
he paints the walls of sorrow,
he writes the verse of perpetual mourning,
he dances with tomorrow.

love the face of a forgotten memory,
kiss the lips of fate,
hold the hand of a rancorous enemy,
recline on the bed of hate.

He pierces the eyes of the silent betrayer,
he stabs the heart of pain,
he slashes the limbs of the constant stranger,
he buries the victim’s remains.

Shake your fists at errant lightning,
shelter the ones you’ve saved
beat the drums of eternal resistence
roar like a tidal wave.

He carries his burden to the river of dreams
he bathes in the waters of madness
he renews his heart in the vibrant streams
he purges himself of the sadness

Forgive those whose fate cannot be mastered
absolve them of their blame
loosen the bonds of faith’s conviction
return to them their names

‘Tis not the hand that throws the knife
nor the fist that batters
’tis the heart of darkness come to life,
the evil that truly matters
without intent we are no more
than silent, empty urges
a wave that laps upon a distant shore
eroding what it purges
when there’s nothing left to recognize
among what still remains
how will you march once more to war
upon these desolate plains?

GemQuest, Book V, When Monsters Call Out The Names Of Men