Poem: "seat of the moon tree"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It has been sponsored by kengr. It belongs to the Origami Mage series.


"seat of the moon tree"


at garden's center
stone bench under sacred fig
waits for the moonrise

tradition awards
the best student this honor:
seat of the moon tree

this year there are two --
equal in skill and magic --
how will teachers choose?

in the end, nothing:
neither of them is chosen,
no honor given

the two best students
are unready for power
blaming each other

the moon rises and
shines upon an empty bench,
an abandoned tree

origami mage
seeks her own way in the world,
leaving school behind

kirigami mage
does not quite know what to do,
wandering aimless

Comments

[technoshaman]

Damn....

And yet, it occurs to me that I grok kirigami mage's problem. Patted on the arse and set loose in the world half-trained...

AH!!! And YOU, Milady, have taught me the solution. If the younglings aren't ready, this is the fault of the *master*, and their place to *fix*, rather than just shoving the student out the airlock. But some are scared, and some are arrogant, and some jus' plain don't know no better.

Thank you. This was not an easy poem, but I needed it.... and its epiphany.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> And yet, it occurs to me that I grok kirigami mage's problem. Patted on the arse and set loose in the world half-trained... <<

Yep. That is somewhat inspired by how schisms often occur in Asian traditions, little differences in technique or preference turning into feuds that get passed down from teacher to student. 0_o

>> AH!!! And YOU, Milady, have taught me the solution. If the younglings aren't ready, this is the fault of the *master*, and their place to *fix*, rather than just shoving the student out the airlock. But some are scared, and some are arrogant, and some jus' plain don't know no better. <<

Exactly. That reminds me of Star Wars, alas, which is an excellent example of what happens when you mix Eastern and Western literary motifs. *kerplowie*

>> Thank you. This was not an easy poem, but I needed it.... and its epiphany. <<

I'm glad I could help.

[redsixwing]

Huh. I thought of Star Wars, too - the half-trained apprentice(s) sent on their way is pulling hard on some feels I have in that direction.

>> the two best students
are unready for power
blaming each other <<

I think they're missing the root of their conflict, and under whose eyes?