Poems by Ceni

[Ceni]

Well, I've been RPing by means of poems in the past couple of months and I'd thought I'd share them with the SLU. Some don't have titles, some do, and these are by me OOC'ly not Cenian authors ICly because I have posted some as my puppet Costa de Ouro. Here's the first one. 

the Gladiator

In the stadium, the gladiator arrives

Ready to fight

In the stadium, the gladiator arrives

Ready to die

In the stadium, the gladiator arrives

Ready to give the masses what they want

But not what he wants

In the stadium, the opponent arrives

Ready to kill

In the stadium, the opponent arrives

Ready to take another victim

At the hand of his merciless sword

In the stadium the fight begins

In the stadium, the fight continues

The hero's first blood was spilled,

The hero cried in anguish and in pain

With the passion of the Sirens,

But with the strength of Hercules,

and the tenacity of Achilles,

Got up to fight again -

They were superior odds, but the gladiator was strong

They were superior odds, but the gladiator was brave

He wanted to live another day

And he fought hard

He fought with the might of Zeus

He fought with the courage of Athena

He fought for his wife, his kids, all gladiators, everywhere

To win his life from the fate that would indubitably have him

Die at the hands of the Tyrant sword

The gladiator spilled his sweat and his blood

The gladiator ducked, parried, stabbed

And found his opponent lying on the ground,

Asking for mercy - the gladiator

Knowing his opponent would not give mercy,

Gave mercy to the opponent

On the last fight of the opponent's career

The gladiator celebrated his victory

The gladiator celebrated his life

The gladiator celebrated his triumph

The gladiator walked out of the stadium

And fell to the ground in happiness

[Ceni]

It's Time
I think it's time now
Time for a change in the world
I know it's time now
Time for a change in how we live
No more wars,
No more strife,
I think it's time now
Time for peace in this world
I know it's time now
Time to end all fighting in this world

Win or Lose
A rigid dichotomy now emerges:
In the tournament, a win or a loss,
Each game with the possibility of elimination,
Each game with the possibility of continuation
One team must win,
One team must lose
And if one team had the power to choose -
They'd choose themselves, and they can,
But only with hard work, sweat, determination,
teamwork, grit, preserverance;
Everybody wants to win,
Nobody wants to lose,
but one team must win,
one team must lose,
and it is up to both teams to choose
The winner is awaited with such tense waiting
The loser must pack their bags and go home
The winner wins glory and a chance to live another day
The loser must walk with their head down in shame
But at the end of the day
If everyone tries their best,
Everyone wins
and nobody loses

[Ceni]

Misjudge
They call me a liar -
but I always tell the truth
They call me a bandit -
but I never steal
They call me a bad influence -
but I always promote morals
They call me a criminal -
but I never commit crimes
They all misunderstand me
They all don't know me
They don't know who I am
yet they label me,
judge me,
stereotype me -
mislabel me,
misjudge me,
downplay me -
If only they knew who I really was...

Power
I want real power
The power to vote,
The power to speak,
The power to act,
The power to decide for myself
What I want -
Not the power to sit down
and submit to
someone ahead of me -
I want real power

Waterfall
Flowing down a mountain stream
The waterfall calls out to me -
So beautiful, it must be from a dream
Water, clear as a diamond, stretches as far as the eye can see
It is so beautiful, peaceful, serene,
And today, nobody is queen

The waterfall pounds the drums
Like an army preparing for battle,
Confident that it will defeat the enemy

Fish swim in the clear waters,
Blithe and carefree
On this clear summer's day
And the waterfall continues to flow,
Peaceful and serene...

[Ceni]

Shine the Light

Standing on the border
between darkness
and light
It feels strange
to straddle two worlds
one, where goodness advises,
helps, but does not rule
another, where evil reigns supreme,
controlling the destiny of its people
It is time
to change this place
from two worlds
into one
Shine, shine the light
take one long step
into that crazy world
and shine, shine the light
do not let the light get away from you
and you will change our world
Shine, shine the light
And send the forces of darkness
scrambling from their nooks and crannies
and into the light
Shine, shine the light
do not wait for the darkness to take you
take the darkness in your hands
shine, shine the light
shine the light into your soul
shine the light
Take the embers of that flame
that once burnt
light the candle with them and
shine, shine the light
do not let darkness into your personality
let light in, and let it show
Shine, shine the light
Shine,
shine the
light

[The State Of Candor]

Ceni,

I love your poems, especially the Gladiator one!

The State Of Candor

[Ceni]

Thanks! It's much appreciated!

[Ceni]

Only Hope
Pandora opened her box
Of sorrow, pain, fear, war,
Death, pain, misery
But also hope
Pandora opened her box
And opened evil,
Opened pain,
Opened misery,
Opened sorrow,
Opened hope.

Whatever evil mankind must face,
He will always have hope,
As long as he exists.
Whatever sorrows mankind must face,
He will always have hope.
Whatever trials mankind must face,
He will always have hope.

Hope that good will prevail,
Hope that evil will not win the day,
Hope that he can overcome the tough odds
And live to see another day

Hope has been the only thing
That keeps man alive
Not hunting skills,
Not eternal warfare,
Not politics,
Hope.

Hope flies away,
Flutters away,
But she will always return
When needed, to give
That extra boost when times
Are tough.

It only takes hope
To face the odds
It only takes hope
To survive, to live, to grow
Have faith in yourself
Have hope.
It's all you need.

It's a long journey
Walking the line
Between darkness
and light

It's a long journey
Walking the line
Between good
and evil

It's a long journey
Walking the line
Between right
and wrong

It's a long journey
Walking the trail
Over the tops of mountains,
Over their peaks and valleys

It's a long journey
Walking the road
From where you are
To where you want to be
And to where your dreams are

It's a long journey
Walking with your army,
Trying to achieve
Quests that may seem impossible -
But you believe, and follow
The long journey

It's a long journey,
Deciding what
To do with your life
But make the journey
And be happy

Make the journey
And be successful
Make the journey,
And live your full life

Make the journey,
Believe in yourself,
Survive,
Live,
Be.

Take the long journey
It will reward you.

[Ceni]

Your Voice

Who will be your voice?
Who will be the voice
Of the downtrodden,
The destitute,
Those in the depths of despair?
Who will be the voice
Of the poor,
Those not in power?

I will be your voice
I will be the voice
Of those without them
I will speak
For those who cannot
I will cry
For those who cannot

I will be the voice
That brings change
I will be the voice
That brings a return
To fairness and equality
I will be the voice
I will be your voice

[Deleted]

Brilliant! Particularly It's Time and the journey!

[Ceni]

Thank you!

[Ceni]

Gaze Up

Gaze up at the sunrise
See the sun bringing its gift
of life, its gift
of fire, to give the world
A day full of joy,
Happiness, and hope

Gaze up at the sunrise
A new day is ahead of you
The sun's gentle guiding rays
Illuminate the world,
One continent by one,
One country by one,
One hill, one valley at a time,
Bringing hope that
Today will be tomorrow,
Today's light morning will be better
Than the night that came before

Gaze up at the clouds
Flying high in the sky
Reflecting the sun's light
In all directions for
All to enjoy
As long as there is water,
There are clouds,
As long as there are clouds,
There is rain
It has been, it is, it will be

Clouds bring change,
Rain gives hope to the poor farmer
With dying crops -
Clouds bring hope that you can change

Gaze up at the clouds
See in them amorphous shapes,
Always changing, always moving,
Never staying in the same place
For too long
See in them things you can become
If only you changed your shape
From what you are now
And dared to soar with the clouds

Gaze up at the stars
See heroes immortalized in them,
Mothers and their children,
Bears who incurred the gods' wrath
They were remembered, are remembered,
Will be remembered
They have been remembered for generations,
Will be remembered for generations

Gaze up at the stars
See in them your future
Look in the constellations
See heroes, mothers, gods, beasts
What will you become?
Gaze up at the stars
Set a wish upon one and make
A promise to yourself
To follow your dreams and your wishes

Gaze up at your sky,
Gaze up at your world,
See the present,
the past,
the future,
Hope, dream, wish,
Dream, wish, hope,
Wish, hope, dream
The world will be yours
If only you promise to yourself
That you will work for it

Gaze up, promise,
Gaze up, look,
Gaze up, see,
Gaze up, believe.

Gaze up.

[Ceni]

A New Era/Hark

Sing the songs of joy,

Sing the songs of praise,

At last the new king has come!

To save us from the evil

One that came before,

To provide deliverance from

The sins of those before us



At last the new king has come!

Hark! Listen to the sounds

Of the new era,

The era of promise,

The era of reform,

The era of new voices,

New policies, new leadership



Listen to the sounds

Of the new era -

Listen to the songs of joy,

Listen to the songs of praise,

At last the new king has come!



Hark! There is change

From the rule

Of the oppressive overlord,

The cruel king,

The evil emperor.

Our savior is upon us -

A new era dawns tonight!



Hark! The new king comes before us,

Not us before him -

As our savior,

Our protector,

Our avenger,

Listen to the songs,

the sounds, smell the smells

of joy for the new king



Hark! A new era comes tonight!

With one sunset,

Out goes the old

With a new sunrise,

In comes the new,

Sins to be redeemed,

Prosperity to be upon us.



Hark! Hark to the songs of joy,

Now that the schismatic sorcer

No longer casts his spells

Upon the populace,

Dominating, crushing,

Defeating all opposition

Until every man, every woman,

Every child,

Both fears his name, and

Worships it.



Hark! The oppressive overlord

No longer lives above us

No longer lives around us

No longer lives!



A new era comes tonight

A new era with feasting,

Not fasting,

A new era with happiness,

Not lamentation,

A new era with wine flowing

freely for all,

Not just one

A new era has come!



A new era has come!

Hark! A new era has come!

Hark! Hark! Hark!

A new era dawns,

A new era has come!

[Ceni]

I Dare You to Dream


I dare you to dream
Dream of better things to come,

Dream that you can accomplish

The impossible,

Dream that you can achieve

The unachievable,

Dream that you can do what you always

Wanted to do



I dare you to hope

Hope that you can overcome your obstacles,

Hope that you can surpass

All expectations,

Hope that you can begin a new beginning

After times have gone sour



I dare you to climb

Climb the highest mountains,

Climb the mountain of fear,

Climb the mountain of hopelessness,

Climb above your challenges and succeed



I dare you to soar

Soar above the clouds that cover the

Light of the sun -

Soar above the clouds that break

Your sign of the way to solve your problems



I dare you to overcome

Overcome your greatest challenges,

Overcome your greatest problems,

Overcome the legacies of hate

and oppression, and

Achieve



I dare you to dream,

I dare you to hope,

I dare you to climb,

I dare you to soar,

I dare you to overcome



Dream new dreams,

Hope new hopes,

Climb above mountains,

Soar above clouds,

Overcome your challenges.

[Ceni]

Hope Always Has a Place

In the middle of a vast plain of night

Walking alone with no one beside you,

there is still hope,

There are still stars sparkling in the sky,

The moon shining her bright smile

To guide the forward

Through the darkness,

A warm campfire looming

Somewhere over the horizon



In the middle of a vast sea which

Swallos all signs of life in

Her vast maw,

There is still hope

There is still a rowboat

With an oar to guide you on your way, and

Distant shores always loom

Somewhere over the horizon



In the middle of a vast desert

Where water is miles away,

Where snakes lurk in the shifting sands

Underneath the ravages of a reaping sun

There is still hope

There is still an oasis hidden somewhere

Within the sands, still a

Palm tree's welcoming shade

Somewhere over the horizon



Hope always has a place

No matter what your troubles or

Where your path might lead

Hope always has a place

No matter how long your journey

Or how arduous,

Hope always has a place

In your life,

Hope always has a place in your

Journey through Mother Nature's vast realm,

Through night and through day,

Hope always has a place -

Keep a place for hope

[Ceni]

The Eagle

The eagle soars over empty country fields,

Watching - waiting - for any sight of prey,

Watching - waiting - for that one sonorous sound

of a mouse rustling through tall green grass,

Watching - waiting - for that one sparkling sight

of a weasel scurrying across an expanse of emptiness

Watching - waiting - for that one satisfying smell,

of a snake slithering through the field, just waiting

to be eaten -



The eagle soars over empty country fields,

Hunting - stalking - that one unlucky animal,

Hunting - stalking - that one unlucky mouse

who found its presence had caught the

arousal of the mighty eagle,

Hunting - stalking - that one unlucky weasel,

who found its only fatal failing had been

its location in an empty field,

Hunting - stalking - that one unlucky snake

who found its act of devouring another

was about to be met by a similar one -



The eagle soars over empty country fields,

Satisfied with its kill,

Satisfied knowing that its chicks

Can live to hear another cock-a-doodle-doo,

Can live to see another sunrise,

Satisfied that it will be able to hunt

Another day, hunt another unlucky victim

Lying unawares -



The eagle soars over empty country fields,

Watching - waiting,

Hunting - stalking,

Satisfied with its kill.

[Ceni]

Gone are the days when one

Could live a carefree life - unworried

About troubles, unworried

About things that they cannot control -

Gone are the days when one

Could live a life of comfort and relaxation

Without the pain of suffering,

Without the pain of an army of troubles advancing

Onward! Onward advance the army of troubles,

Onward to your heart!



The army of worries advance on the battlefield,

Met by your army of hope -

Your army of dreams -

Your army of fortitude that can

Only march forward into battle against that advancing army

If you give it the weapons it needs

To defeat those crushing expectations,

If you give it the soldiers it needs

To defeat those gloomy guards of success -

The army of hope can only advance

When you advance with it.



Onward marches the army of troubles,

It marches onward! Onward!

Yet the army of dreams and hopes has

Stayed stock still - descending in to a rabble of roustabouts

Urge them onward! Send them onward!

Onward, army of dreams! Onward!

Onward, army of hope! Onward!

Defeat the division of doom!



March onward! March!

March magnificently, do not flag

and wallow in your despair!

March onward! Tackle the army of troubles

with aplomb!

March onward! Meet that craven army seeking

To use your own emotions against you -

Meet that craven army of fear and despair,

Meet that craven army of troubles -

Do not let them abscond with your hopes or dreams!



Onward march the opposite armies -

Onward they march, ready to make battle

In the battlefield of your heart

Do not let the army of troubles win and tear you to pieces -

Do not let them divide you and conquer!

Resist! Resist! Resist, armies of the light!

Resist and take the battlefield -

Fill the battlefield with hopes and dreams

and give that enemy

No resting place!

[Ceni]

Darkness surrounds that long tunnel
Towards the light -
No candle flickers, no fire burns, no torch
Lights the way except the
Light that guides your soul
Through the all-consuming darkness

O candle! Come burn in this void
Of darkness without light
Do not extinguish!
Let your fire burn in this void, let
Your scent and heat expand to
Fill it, fill this void of darkness
With your glowing light!

O fire! Come warm this void
of darkness without light
Do not extinguish!
Fill the void with heat,
Fill this void with light -
Warm and glowing, spreading
All around, leaving no place
Untouched in your expanse!


O torch! Come enter this void
Of darkness without light
Do not extinguish!
Fill the void with your burning light,
Guide the way to those
Who cannot find their own
Leave your embers scattered
Around, flaming remnants
Of the void you fill
With your glowing light!

O candle!
O fire!
O torch!
Come help the light that
Guides your soul
Through the all-consuming darkness
And give it -
Give the void -
Light!
One light is not enough -
Spread light throughout
This dark expanse, do not
Let the darkness take over
Do not let your soul's light
Go alone in the darkness!

[Ceni]

The Storm

The storm rumbles over the horizon -
Advancing on a fleet-footed horse,
Rapier in hand,
Ready to prey upon the weak and
Unprepared,
Ready to leave all destroyed in
Its wake, all gobbled up by
Its ravenous maw!
Ready to spare nothing lying in its path

The storm rumbles over the horizon -
Leaving unwary men screaming,
"Hark, hark, the storm advances!
The cavalry of thunder comes, the trident
of lightning with its electric prow comes!
Hark, hark! Save what you can
From the ravenous storm, sparing
None from its merciless jaws,
Sparing none lying in its path!"

The storm sprints over the horizon -
Advancing quickly, quickly, like
A horseback rider galloping
Along an empty country road with
News of great import
The storm sprints over the horizon
Advancing over hills, forests, valleys,
Farming villages, roads, houses,
Sparing nothing lying in its path!

The storm sprints over the horizon,
tearing apart fences from fields,
hearths from homes, homes
from the people who own them,
chickens from coops, cows from barns,
Sparing nothing lying in its path!

O ravenous storm,
Please spare something, spare anything
From your gaping maw!
O ravenous storm,
Do not rob the people of their
livelihoods, their hopes, their dreams!
O ravenous storm,
Know you cannot succeed in robbing these people
Of their livelihoods, their hopes, their dreams!
O ravenous storm,
Stop right in your tracks! Await
the tenacity of the people and
stop in awe of their unified force!
O ravenous storm!
Await your punishment
for sparing nothing in your path
And look upon these resilient people,
Who, despite you! O ravenous storm!
Still have their hopes and dreams!
Look upon them!

Hark! The people will survive
This ravenous storm,
For it has spared hope from
Its ravenous maw - it has not
gobbled up hope for its meal!
Hark! Hope lives!
Hark! Hope survives!
Hark! Hope will guide you through
the dark of the storm
Until you see the light of day!

[Ceni]

Halcyon Shore
Waves from the stormy sea
Crash upon a halcyon shore
Disturbing the peaceful serenity of the sand -
Yet, at the same time, creating a serenity
Free from the urban stink
Or sound of cars rushing from place
To place, always in a hurry,
Or the city lights hurting
Your eyes - red! green! blue! -
At all hours of the day

O halcyon shore! How
we wish we could
Escape to your serenity
All of the time -
Escape from the corkscrew
Grip of the cities that never sleep -
Noise! Lights! Smells!
O halcyon shore - what a contradiction
From the rough power of the waves
Comes a peaceful ring, a
Tantalizing prospect of quiet reflection

The sounds of the sea beckon -
Seagulls squawk, fight over food,
The waves wash up onto the beach,
At once powerful and dangerous
Yet still the rhythm sends a message
Of peace and harmony
The smells of the sea beckon -
Salty water - sometimes so caustic yet
Ever so peaceful,
The beach breeze with its smell of the sea
Wafting up into a hammock -
Why not escape from your troubles
And wander to a place
Where you can relax, carefree?

O halcyon shore!
You beckon all towards you!
Who can resist the call
of the ocean?
So peaceful, so serene,
so halcyon!
The city calls, too -
Yet its stink, its constant hurry,
Its fast life with no time
To settle down, to think, to relax
Cannot match the clarion call
Of the halcyon shore with
No troubles, a slow place
To relax your wearied eyes

O halcyon shore!
Let us all head towards your
Serenity - let us all
Relax our wearied eyes -
Breathe in
and out,
In and out,
And let go of our troubles
Simply exist
On one halcyon shore somewhere
O halcyon shore!
O how you call!

[Ceni]

Dusk



The sun's shining bright rays flee

From the rapidly encroaching maw of night

All light has disappeared over the horizon, fearful

Of the ravishing appetite of the night,

Ready to devour all in its path



O Despair! You cannot

drive your rapier of fear

into the hearts of the oppressed

When light has fled over the horizon!

O Despair! You cannot

pretend to save the hearts

of the hopeless from the gaping maw

and then

devour them yourself, fiend!

O Despair! You cannot

keep up your cruel trickery

Light will return with its fleet foot

To save the day!



Yet night crawls slowly along

With the radiant splendor of the Sun

Vanishing from the ends of the Earth -

Running away to cracks, caves, crevices,

Running away from the rapid

Onslaught of the night



O Despair!

You cannot lunge for our souls

When light has fled -

You cannot enter a room of darkness

and take control -

You cannot rule a world of darkness

forever! For the armies of light

Will once again wake from their

solemn slumber and rise

to take their place!



But - woe! - night has just began

and light's slumber shall not end during

the long hours of the night!

Dawn advances - slowly, surely -

yet we must wait those

long hours for it to come.

O light! Where have you run off to?

Have you scurried away

from the phalanx of the night,

its onslaught of troops,

scared and cowardly?



Can you give up just yet, O Warriors of the light?

Do not let the armies of the night

March onward - yet they march

Onward! Onward!

Routing the craven troops of the light,

Sending them to their hiding holes,

Fearful of the onslaught of the night

Onward! Onward! they march



Yet as light disappears over the horizon -

O light! - despair cannot clutch

the hearts of the oppressed

Let there be hope that light

shall not forever disappear!

O hope! Carry us

on your fleet foot!

Carry us on your wings - flapping!

fluttering! and take us

to a place where darkness

shall not reign! O Hope!

Let us not forget that light shall return!

O Hope! Please save us from

those rapacious forces

of the night! Remind us of

the return of the light!