Thorns
by Gail Riordan (wander@dnai.com)
In honor of Ruth's new story (which I am saving to read as a
bedtime story :-)) I am hereby posting the significantly
*revised* version of "Thorns" and hopefully it will make rather
more sense this time.
Sockii - please replace the archive version with this one.
Thank you muchly!
Custodian in Residence of Qui-Gon's Library of Poetry
Summary: The meaning in a haircut - Shakespearian sonnet.
Pairing: Q/O
Rating: PG
Archive: Master_Apprentice, JAOA, GiffStein Productions. Anyone
else, please ask.
Spoilers: None
Category: Poetry
Warning: Angst
Feedback: Yes, please!
Note: This will probably make more sense if you have read the
JAOA stories (my own 'Adjustments' in particular), and Ruth
& Atara's 'I Have a Bad Feeling About This'. Working on the
first story gave rise to the core image. Ruth's story made me
pick it up, shake it out & take it to a quite different
place than I thought it was going to go. I don't need to
footnote the references, do I? Nah.
Well, just one - the title is a reference to both the Norse
rune 'thurisaz' (thorn, control over the forces of chaos (ie
the hammer of Thor), masculine creative energy and protection
are *some* of the meanings contained in the symbol) and the
thorns on the Steel Rose.
Disclaimers: All things TPM belong to George Lucas. This poem
belongs to me, but I'm not making any money off it. (c) 26
October 1999
Thorns
Rose-gold or bronze alike in sacrifice --
(Godiva armored rode in but her hair)
A nakedness revealed: will love suffice
To clothe the soul thus chastized and laid bare?
Sif was betrayed by Loki, sheared and shorn,
Restored by dwarven skill. So give Need voice:
Intention alters what is symbol-worn
And mastery submission knows by choice.
Is it Rapunzel's path that now you take,
To flee the past, the future only hold,
Or Samson's lot - that blade may spirit break,
Or something else, containing new and old?
A strange Delilah this that cuts that length
Not to make weak, but to engender strength.
Gail Riordan
26 October 1999
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