January 1st

As childhood died the old year
made The Soldier reappear.

The ash embowered night and day
as at the gate she prayed;

Wyman, am I worthy?
Speak your wordle to me,

and drisk shrouded in its cloak
holway, river, brook and oak.

All souls under Orlam’s reign
made passage for the born again.

So look behind and look before
at life a-knocking at death’s door

and teake towards your dark haired Lord
forever bleeding with The Word.

So look before and look behind
at life and death all innertwined

and teake towards your dark haired Lord
forever bleeding with The Word.

Wyman – warrior; wordle – world; drisk – a fine, wind-driven mist; holway – hollow lane; innertwined – intertwined; teake to – to reach forth to a man or thing with a ready good will