A Plea to Gorse (poetry)

This is a creative work set in the world of Elanthia, attributed to its original author(s). It does not necessarily represent the official lore of GemStone IV.

Title: A Plea To Gorse

Author: player of Charna Ja'Varrel'Kav

The first season I met him, he was always cross,
Masking the anguish and grief of his loss.
But a man's anger is like a stone covered with moss-
Climb it too soon and on your rear you'll be tossed.

So I took to mind an elder's long ago speech-
A lecture in flowers can gap any breach-
Petals may vary, but there's a meaning in each.
And this lesson to him I might likewise teach.

Flowers to share what my words cannot convey,
Using petal and stem for a loving essay. Fresh cuts I'll need to create a bouquet-
To ensure my message will not go astray.

A bevy of lilacs for a heart that is new,
A dryad to draw him from his solitude-
Wrapped with a ribbon dyed a silken blue.
The color to convey that my meaning is true.

But-

He wears yellow gorse to hide his deep pain,
Throbbing with hate, his indifference is feigned.
Still I would try, though my attempts seem in vain-
What can ease the loss of a love who's been slain?

Back to the gardens! I won't give up on first try.
Perhaps an arrangement that is all dry.
Bouquets in violet to match sunset sky -
For determination, a fair columbine.

I had to find something to help him to cope -
Deeper in flower lore and learning to grope.
So I added trillium with a bright twisted rope -
Because even in anguish there still lingers hope.

I presented my dear one with this second bouquet,
And watched him mull over what my flowers conveyed.
But their meaning escaped him again this new day -
And he lingered in yellow, much to my dismay.

And-

He wears yellow gorse to hide his deep pain,
Throbbing with hate, his indifference is feigned.
Still I would try, though my attempts seem in vain-
What can ease the loss of a love who's been slain?

“Believe Me!” Trumpted my iris of pure white.
“Devoted love!” Was honey’s aid to my plight.
Sunflowers’s bright yellow then entered my fight,
“Admiration!” It cried and I knew it was right.

Others around us now snickered and sneered.
“You can’t tame a heart who in hatred’s veneered-
“Come now, sweet child, you’ve always been weird-
“But surely you know that his love’s to be feared!”

With a Fennel for strength I was back to my task.
Ignoring their pleas the more that they asked-
Pink geranium as my preference now unmasked-
Pure edelweiss of longing joined in my crystal flask.

And still-

He wears yellow gorse to hide his deep pain,
Throbbing with hate, his indifference is feigned.
Still I would try, though my attempts seem in vain-
What can ease the loss of a love who's been slain?

I needed to draw him away from secrecy-
So I started to wear his symbol discretely.
Star-shaped petals of violet for his sorcery,
Bluebell encircled to prove my constancy.

Ever his shadow, a path of flowers I’d leave-
Maybe in persistence he’d finally believe.
But I’m still young, and I just a little naïve-
As he’d gaze and walk by them, eve after eve.

Sighs of regret drew yellow carnations of disdain.
Sweet and cloying salorisa for my suffocating pain-
Bound to the red rose for the love I could not gain-
And a moonflower to forget my attempts so insane.

So now—
I will wear yellow gorse to hide my own pain,
Throbbing with yearning, apathy I cannot feign.
I’m done with trying -- my attempts were in vain-
The loss of his love has now driven me to abstain.