Random Writings

Oh, it is poetry day! Why? Because. I promise it is not too pretentious or dramatic.




Everything I write
is crap.
Well, at least
I have lots of paper.








Oh, wow, that was really something, wasn't it? heheh.

I hope you weren't disappointed. I had some other stuff to write down, but I've forgotten it now.


Ah, but now it is story time!



The people of a certain land were very peaceful. In defending their peace they shunned outsiders, saying only that they brought war and strife, and all were turned away. These people had good land, with herds and crops both bounteous, and rain often caressed their earth, so that they did not know famine or thirst. They believed, with such good fortune, that surely the gods smiled upon them.

One day they awoke to see a dark wall of clouds, clouds so black and massive that the sky itself was fenced away, accompanied by thunder like a conquering army - it was as though the world itself had come to make war on them. While they were standing in awe, a man made his way along their road, and they did nothing, for they were greatly dumbfounded.

Without introduction, he approached the largest group of them, and called out, "I bear ill tidings from afar - I am almost too late. The storm you see before you is the worst there has ever been, and many lands have joined the sea; many more kingdoms will soon be washed away. There is no time to make boats, to set aside supplies, or to run, for this storm will not soon stop, and it will be known everywhere. Do not despair! For I met a messenger along the road who said he knew a way to save you, a way a few brave souls have followed. He said to me, 'if only their young women and men will give up their lives in sacrifice to the gods, rain shall not fall upon their heads. If they are very devout, as I hear they are, then the gods shall pity them.' That was all his message."

So the people debated for a time, and the man left, saying he must warn other lands. Soon some brave youths offered their lives to appease the gods, and the people were much saddened, but greatly proud of their children, and the debate came to an end. Many of their youths left with the priests, and those who stayed behind bowed their heads in shame. The priests swore, with tears and grim faces, that they would please the gods with the rituals they knew.

With hung heads, the priests returned, and said it was done. There was much weeping, and many openly wondered if the gods' favor would be won, and why they were so cruel. They waited, and the clouds did not lift. Their weeping threatened to drown the land before the storm; many set out to find the messenger, in order that they might kill him. But he was not found, and the people despaired, and the clouds rolled on.

But it did not rain, just as they had been told. They began rejoicing, and prayed, and some questioned whether the rain would have come at all. That night the people slept well, and were much relieved - even those who had lost children for they said to themselves, "it was a worthy sacrifice."

The next day they woke to find their river swollen, full with the drowned. They were not concerned, for these were not their own: they told themselves that these were sinful and ignorant people who had not bothered to save themselves. Still, they were not without pity, and they spent some time looking for the living. All they found was one ancient man, improbably alive, with skin as thin as paper - he was sodden and soggy, and could not possibly have lived, yet the floods had spared him.

He gasped out, quietly, feebly, sadly, "they say that the wisest men are the saddest, and I must be wisest of all. I gave my children over to death to save so many; a wandering traveler said we must, should we want to stop the rain. He spoke truly, for never did a drop fall on our heads, but the truth was much more, and much harder to bear. The waters came from our neighbor's lands and swept all away, though not a drop came to us from the sky. Now I see I am not alone in my foolishness...pity moves my heart, and I fear it is too much for me to bear."

And soon, just as he said, the waters rose, coming crashing down from the mountains, sweeping all away, and the land and all its people were drowned, and never heard from again.