Some time ago, I promised that I'd post up the final versions of the work I did for my Creative Writing class; now I'm finally getting around to doing it. Here's one of the three poems I wrote, and my personal favorite.
The Five Maidens Sutra
Mercury, Maiden of Journeys
Once, there was a saffron maiden...
...who was given providence over going, doing, travel, and the results from it.
Many Men wanted her for their own.
One by one, they approached her,
And she fled by the quickest route she found.
She says: "You still have a long way to go. I would keep moving."
Men cannot help who drives them.
Venus, Maiden of Serenity
Once, there was a sapphire maiden...
...who was given providence over all things which make life worth living.
Some Men say she cares most about the world,
Some Men say she cares most about Heaven,
Some Men say she cares most about herself.
She says: "Someone as pretty as you will always be wanted."
Love is smiling at your troubles.
Mars, Maiden of Battles
Once, there was a crimson maiden...
...who was given providence over war, strife, conflict, fighting, and struggle.
She struck an iron wall, and it shattered her hand.
She slew the thing she feared the most, and conquered the land that feared her.
Fate depends on how you face your battles, not whether you win or lose.
She says: "The stars hold only one more battle for you. This is not that battle."
Survival is control.
Jupiter, Maiden of Secrets
Once, there was an emerald maiden...
...who was given providence over everything known, and everything unknown.
Truths... Hopes... Prayers... Fears… Each brings an answer.
Each answer is part of a larger puzzle. The puzzle holds another question.
Men set aside their petty squabbles in her name.
She says: "Should I live or die? Am I living or dead?"
To know the world is to choose it.
Saturn, Maiden of Endings
Once, there was a violet maiden...
...who was tasked to cut each thread of Fate at Jupiter's direction.
Her death is a merciful one, giving way to new life:
An apple falling from the tree. A boy becoming a man. A beast, slain by fearful villagers.
Each ending allows for a new beginning.
She says: "No being can escape my duty."
There’s always an ending.
This poem was inspired by the Five Maidens in Exalted. The Five Maidens are together one of the Celestial Incarnae, the most powerful of gods. The Sidereal Exalted are the Chosen of the five Maidens, divided into castes under each of the Maidens. The sub-titles in this poem are the actual names/titles of each of the Maidens in the game, and the color in the first line of each stanza is the color associated with that Maiden.
This poem began by using the sutras found throughout the Charms chapter of Manual of Exalted Power: Sidereals, and the Sidereal Martial Arts chapter of Scrolls of Esoteric Wisdom, vol. I: Scroll of the Monk. I separated each sutra into which Maiden it might be applicable to, and then combined lines from several sutras to form the initial version of each stanza (generally, 3-4 sutras from the book contributed to one stanza). Once that was done, I modified the lines to make them flow better, give them extra structure, and modify the meaning of the stanza to give it the weight I wanted it to have. While there are still echoes of the original sutras in my work, I like to think that I've made it my own.
I think my favorite part of this poem is the ending, and several people in the class commented on it: ending the poem with the "Maiden of Endings" verse is particularly noticeable, as is the final line of the final verse: There is always an ending.
