JEROME BROOKE'S BIO
Jerome Brooke was born in Evansville, Indiana.
He now lives in the Kingdom of Siam.
He has written our Lady of Silk and many other books.
His work has recently been published in a number of journals, including World of Myth – Welcome to Wherever - Indigo - MelBrakE Press - First Literary Review - Penny Ante - Conceit - Pink Mouse - Inquisition – Censored Poets – Cynic - and Mirror Dance.
Myth of the Eternal Return
I
Hunters of the Dawn
i
Chill Warning
Wolves howl, chill warning,
Song of blood.
Hunters smile, men reach for spears,
Stone, one with wood.
Our Lady of wolves, with fangs,
In dark shadows is seen.
Howl, children of darkness, follow,
Run with your white queen.
Circles of shadows, cover the prey,
Red stains the snow.
Blood, on white snow, ice and fire,
Stars spin, and glow.
ii
Children of Dawn
Fire dances, in circles of stone, leaping high,
Night flows, silently, outside.
Stones dance, in shadows, shadows of fear,
Fear carried, with the tide.
Dawn comes, with light and ice,
Ice that cuts, blades of death.
Hunters stand, round the dancing fire;
Hunters, wolves of the North.
Spears reach high, women sing,
Hunters turn, and dance.
Blood, warm food, elders smile;
Hunters raise the lance.
iii
Our Lady of Wolves
Our Lady of Wolves, with fangs,
In dark, cruel shadows, is seen.
Howl, Children of Darkness, follow,
Run, run with your white queen.
Circles of shadows, cover the prey,
Red stains the snow.
Blood on white snow, ice and fire,
Stars spin, and glow.
High, over the sea, stands the Lady,
With hair of gold.
On hills of pure silver, hard driven,
By gales, ever bold.
Our Lady of Wolves, soft and kind,
Dance with us, brave one.
Run, leader of hunters, cruel and swift,
Slay her, the waiting, swift deer.
iv
Cruel and Fleet
Our Lady of Wolves, soft and kind,
Dance with us, brave one.
Run, leader of hunters, cruel and swift,
Slay her, the waiting, swift deer.
Our Lady of Wolves, with fangs,
In dark shadows, is seen.
Howl, children of darkness, follow,
Run with your White Queen.
.
High, on the hill, round the lone prey,
Wolves sing of cold.
Wolves, gray hunters, sing and run;
Hunters fleet and bold.
Blood of red deer, sing the hunters,
Blood for the long day.
Blood, sings the Lady, red blood,
Blood of helpless prey.
Stars of night, burn the flowers,
On the dale.
Spears of red dawn, gather;
Hold them well.
v
Spears
Spears reach high, women sing,
Hunters turn, and dance.
Blood, warm food, elders smile;
Hunters raise the lance.
Wolves sound chill warning, howls,
Songs of red blood.
Hunters smile, men reach for spears,
Stone, one with wood.
vi
Dance
Around the lone, tired man, hunters,
Wolves, a circle formed.
Wolves, white wolves, howled,
Howled, and swarmed.
Blood of timid deer, blood of swift horse,
Rich blood, the pack had known.
But now, slow, one fell, and rose, in the snow;
Human blood, would be their own.
Rushing to the lone, tired man,
Sharp fangs bare;
Wolves closed, icy howls rose;
Fear filled the air.
Down, came the heavy axe, cruel,
Sharp, with dark stone.
Soon cries arose, surprise and pain;
Soon, stood the man, alone.
Wolves lay, where now the man,
Silent, now stood.
vii
Fire in the Centre
Fire in the centre, rising high,
Cold, flowing outside.
Food is good, hunger bad;
Work well the hide.
Babies soon sleep, small ones play,
Some old ones die.
Hunters draw near, men with spears,
Sharp and cruel, children cry.
Spears find rest, women run,
Children look in.
Food, warm food, women smile,
Hunters now grin.
One dries her tears, one looks,
One now does leave her lair.
Hunter smile, hunters near,
Women frown, and stare.
viii
Waiting
Hate, she is bad, hate, she does no work,
She is fair, very fair.
Hunters eat meat, from the fire, hunters sleep,
Women now, will dare.
Blows rain down, hunters wake,
Women run, and lay.
Hunters laugh, women hate,
Short, short is the day.
ix
Gold
High, over the sea, stands the Lady,
With spear of gold.
On hills of pure silver, hard driven,
By gales, ever bold.
Our Lady of Wolves, soft and kind,
Dance with us, brave one.
Run, leader of hunters, cruel and swift,
Slay her, the helpless deer.
High, on the hill, round the lone prey,
Wolves sing of cold.
Wolves, gray hunters, sing and run;
Hunters fleet and bold.
Blood of red deer, sing the hunters,
Blood for the long day.
Blood, sings the Lady, red blood,
Blood of swift prey.
II
Our Lady of Silk
i
Ador the Queen
Ladies of the court, with grace and charm,
All walk with our Ador.
Ladies of love, and courtesans of song,
All these and more.
In robes of gold and red, silk of pale flame,
Walks our Lady, our maiden fair,
Black eyes flashing fire, burning and cold,
With circlet of gold, holding dark hair.
Noble knights, with swords of steel and honor,
Slay and burn.
Spirits of fire, red crosses on fields of white,
All dance, all turn.
Priests, in robes of white, aged and solemn,
White hair, marking wisdom,
Listen to music, music of stars and spheres,
Wise, in the laws of heaven.
ii
Procession
Ladies of the court, with grace and charm,
All walk before.
Ladies of Love, courtesans bold, all walk with her,
Our Queen, Ador.
Lady of War, Queen of Strife, so cold,
Use the spear of Fear.
Lady of Love, Queen of Hearts, so pure,
Slay with words, so dear.
iii
Crystal Palace
Near the centre, near Saint Peters,
Stands the crystal palace.
In the palace, near the silver fountain,
Sleeps our Queen, in lace.
Through halls of gold and bright silver,
Proceeds our Noble Queen.
Leading her knights and great lords,
Trailing her robe of green.
Above the black towers, dark clouds gather;
Red banners wildly toss.
Our Lady of Swords calls, calls out to the ranks,
Pale Legions of the Lost.
Gates of iron close fast, under blue stars,
Cohorts of the moon.
Our legions march, with spears, march to death,
On the morn, so soon.
In her palace of crystal, sleeps our lady,
Our Victorious Queen.
She speaks the name of one, one in her legion,
No more to be seen.
Iv
Knight of the Cross
For her knight with the Cross of Red,
Fell her precious tears.
For the crusader, the Green Knight,
Were her consuming fears.
Half a world away, marched the warriors,
Crusaders, our Legion.
In the desolate waste, rode the knight,
Marked, as Champion.
Champion of the True Queen,
Knight of the Cross;
Ride to victory, ride to the fore,
Into the mist of the lost.
v
Silk and Steel
Turning, turning, the red token waved,
Turning in the air.
Hearing the cheers, the High Queen smiled,
Our Lady once fair.
On his black, brave steed, the knight held high,
Then set, his iron lance.
His wild, brave horse reared, pawed the dusk,
Then did proudly dance.
High, high was his heart, high was his lance,
His cold, iron lance.
Fast, fast was the charge, fast the dance,
Their reckless dance.
Racing, racing, two iron warriors now rode,
Rode, and did clash.
Riding, riding, lances aflame, raced the men,
Raced to cut, and slash.
vi
Fair Lady
Red, red was the blood of the Emerald Knight,
Her dying knight.
Red, red were the lips of the queen, fair lady,
Now in his sight.
Lips of cruelty, lips of fire, lips of love,
Red, red lips.
Red, red were her claws, red her fangs,
Red at the tips.
III
Eternity
i
Cruel Babylon
Thunder, cruel master, sounds far away,
Ashes blow in the sky.
Fear walks the street, cries ring out,
Filling the empty square.
Tremors move the land, the valley,
Of death and desolation.
Death walks the winding streets,
All is barren, all is lost.
Lava flows near, fires rise and dance,
Ending desperate life.
Hope slowly dies, life departs,
Death reaches out.
Red chariots fill the square, troops fire,
Then fall back.
Iron arrows fill the way, iron sharp,
Hard, and fleet.
ii
Ice and Snow
Ice and snow, lay before them,
In rags, a dirty band.
In front was the man, the tall one,
Wooden spear in hand.
Blood was seen, red on white,
Where he had gone.
Next, came one with hammer,
Crude axe of stone.
Blood, blood could be seen,
Where feet had lain.
Hunger, relentless hunger walked,
No game to be seen.
Last, came one with a metal can,
Filled with precious ...gas.
Where is the tank, it was here,
Yes, here in the pass!
iii
Fangs of the Night
Tyger, Queen of Dark Night,
Queen of Day,
Always you walk, always you hunt,
Searching for prey.
Dead shadows, shadows of cold night,
Shadows now cold,
Hiding claws of death, dire claws of pain,
Hiding fangs of gold.
Snow leopard, queen of death,
Follow this, our band.
Embrace us, kiss us, one by one,
Silent in the land.
Hunters of the Dawn
i
Chill Warning
Wolves howl, chill warning,
Song of blood.
Hunters smile, men reach for spears,
Stone, one with wood.
Our Lady of wolves, with fangs,
In dark shadows is seen.
Howl, children of darkness, follow,
Run with your white queen.
Circles of shadows, cover the prey,
Red stains the snow.
Blood, on white snow, ice and fire,
Stars spin, and glow.
ii
Children of Dawn
Fire dances, in circles of stone, leaping high,
Night flows, silently, outside.
Stones dance, in shadows, shadows of fear,
Fear carried, with the tide.
Dawn comes, with light and ice,
Ice that cuts, blades of death.
Hunters stand, round the dancing fire;
Hunters, wolves of the North.
Spears reach high, women sing,
Hunters turn, and dance.
Blood, warm food, elders smile;
Hunters raise the lance.
iii
Our Lady of Wolves
Our Lady of Wolves, with fangs,
In dark, cruel shadows, is seen.
Howl, Children of Darkness, follow,
Run, run with your white queen.
Circles of shadows, cover the prey,
Red stains the snow.
Blood on white snow, ice and fire,
Stars spin, and glow.
High, over the sea, stands the Lady,
With hair of gold.
On hills of pure silver, hard driven,
By gales, ever bold.
Our Lady of Wolves, soft and kind,
Dance with us, brave one.
Run, leader of hunters, cruel and swift,
Slay her, the waiting, swift deer.
iv
Cruel and Fleet
Our Lady of Wolves, soft and kind,
Dance with us, brave one.
Run, leader of hunters, cruel and swift,
Slay her, the waiting, swift deer.
Our Lady of Wolves, with fangs,
In dark shadows, is seen.
Howl, children of darkness, follow,
Run with your White Queen.
.
High, on the hill, round the lone prey,
Wolves sing of cold.
Wolves, gray hunters, sing and run;
Hunters fleet and bold.
Blood of red deer, sing the hunters,
Blood for the long day.
Blood, sings the Lady, red blood,
Blood of helpless prey.
Stars of night, burn the flowers,
On the dale.
Spears of red dawn, gather;
Hold them well.
v
Spears
Spears reach high, women sing,
Hunters turn, and dance.
Blood, warm food, elders smile;
Hunters raise the lance.
Wolves sound chill warning, howls,
Songs of red blood.
Hunters smile, men reach for spears,
Stone, one with wood.
vi
Dance
Around the lone, tired man, hunters,
Wolves, a circle formed.
Wolves, white wolves, howled,
Howled, and swarmed.
Blood of timid deer, blood of swift horse,
Rich blood, the pack had known.
But now, slow, one fell, and rose, in the snow;
Human blood, would be their own.
Rushing to the lone, tired man,
Sharp fangs bare;
Wolves closed, icy howls rose;
Fear filled the air.
Down, came the heavy axe, cruel,
Sharp, with dark stone.
Soon cries arose, surprise and pain;
Soon, stood the man, alone.
Wolves lay, where now the man,
Silent, now stood.
vii
Fire in the Centre
Fire in the centre, rising high,
Cold, flowing outside.
Food is good, hunger bad;
Work well the hide.
Babies soon sleep, small ones play,
Some old ones die.
Hunters draw near, men with spears,
Sharp and cruel, children cry.
Spears find rest, women run,
Children look in.
Food, warm food, women smile,
Hunters now grin.
One dries her tears, one looks,
One now does leave her lair.
Hunter smile, hunters near,
Women frown, and stare.
viii
Waiting
Hate, she is bad, hate, she does no work,
She is fair, very fair.
Hunters eat meat, from the fire, hunters sleep,
Women now, will dare.
Blows rain down, hunters wake,
Women run, and lay.
Hunters laugh, women hate,
Short, short is the day.
ix
Gold
High, over the sea, stands the Lady,
With spear of gold.
On hills of pure silver, hard driven,
By gales, ever bold.
Our Lady of Wolves, soft and kind,
Dance with us, brave one.
Run, leader of hunters, cruel and swift,
Slay her, the helpless deer.
High, on the hill, round the lone prey,
Wolves sing of cold.
Wolves, gray hunters, sing and run;
Hunters fleet and bold.
Blood of red deer, sing the hunters,
Blood for the long day.
Blood, sings the Lady, red blood,
Blood of swift prey.
II
Our Lady of Silk
i
Ador the Queen
Ladies of the court, with grace and charm,
All walk with our Ador.
Ladies of love, and courtesans of song,
All these and more.
In robes of gold and red, silk of pale flame,
Walks our Lady, our maiden fair,
Black eyes flashing fire, burning and cold,
With circlet of gold, holding dark hair.
Noble knights, with swords of steel and honor,
Slay and burn.
Spirits of fire, red crosses on fields of white,
All dance, all turn.
Priests, in robes of white, aged and solemn,
White hair, marking wisdom,
Listen to music, music of stars and spheres,
Wise, in the laws of heaven.
ii
Procession
Ladies of the court, with grace and charm,
All walk before.
Ladies of Love, courtesans bold, all walk with her,
Our Queen, Ador.
Lady of War, Queen of Strife, so cold,
Use the spear of Fear.
Lady of Love, Queen of Hearts, so pure,
Slay with words, so dear.
iii
Crystal Palace
Near the centre, near Saint Peters,
Stands the crystal palace.
In the palace, near the silver fountain,
Sleeps our Queen, in lace.
Through halls of gold and bright silver,
Proceeds our Noble Queen.
Leading her knights and great lords,
Trailing her robe of green.
Above the black towers, dark clouds gather;
Red banners wildly toss.
Our Lady of Swords calls, calls out to the ranks,
Pale Legions of the Lost.
Gates of iron close fast, under blue stars,
Cohorts of the moon.
Our legions march, with spears, march to death,
On the morn, so soon.
In her palace of crystal, sleeps our lady,
Our Victorious Queen.
She speaks the name of one, one in her legion,
No more to be seen.
Iv
Knight of the Cross
For her knight with the Cross of Red,
Fell her precious tears.
For the crusader, the Green Knight,
Were her consuming fears.
Half a world away, marched the warriors,
Crusaders, our Legion.
In the desolate waste, rode the knight,
Marked, as Champion.
Champion of the True Queen,
Knight of the Cross;
Ride to victory, ride to the fore,
Into the mist of the lost.
v
Silk and Steel
Turning, turning, the red token waved,
Turning in the air.
Hearing the cheers, the High Queen smiled,
Our Lady once fair.
On his black, brave steed, the knight held high,
Then set, his iron lance.
His wild, brave horse reared, pawed the dusk,
Then did proudly dance.
High, high was his heart, high was his lance,
His cold, iron lance.
Fast, fast was the charge, fast the dance,
Their reckless dance.
Racing, racing, two iron warriors now rode,
Rode, and did clash.
Riding, riding, lances aflame, raced the men,
Raced to cut, and slash.
vi
Fair Lady
Red, red was the blood of the Emerald Knight,
Her dying knight.
Red, red were the lips of the queen, fair lady,
Now in his sight.
Lips of cruelty, lips of fire, lips of love,
Red, red lips.
Red, red were her claws, red her fangs,
Red at the tips.
III
Eternity
i
Cruel Babylon
Thunder, cruel master, sounds far away,
Ashes blow in the sky.
Fear walks the street, cries ring out,
Filling the empty square.
Tremors move the land, the valley,
Of death and desolation.
Death walks the winding streets,
All is barren, all is lost.
Lava flows near, fires rise and dance,
Ending desperate life.
Hope slowly dies, life departs,
Death reaches out.
Red chariots fill the square, troops fire,
Then fall back.
Iron arrows fill the way, iron sharp,
Hard, and fleet.
ii
Ice and Snow
Ice and snow, lay before them,
In rags, a dirty band.
In front was the man, the tall one,
Wooden spear in hand.
Blood was seen, red on white,
Where he had gone.
Next, came one with hammer,
Crude axe of stone.
Blood, blood could be seen,
Where feet had lain.
Hunger, relentless hunger walked,
No game to be seen.
Last, came one with a metal can,
Filled with precious ...gas.
Where is the tank, it was here,
Yes, here in the pass!
iii
Fangs of the Night
Tyger, Queen of Dark Night,
Queen of Day,
Always you walk, always you hunt,
Searching for prey.
Dead shadows, shadows of cold night,
Shadows now cold,
Hiding claws of death, dire claws of pain,
Hiding fangs of gold.
Snow leopard, queen of death,
Follow this, our band.
Embrace us, kiss us, one by one,
Silent in the land.
**********************
C 2011 Jerome Brooke
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