Altiny and Lenore (an epic poem)
In the land's darkest years
Of violence and rage
From prejudicial fears
Before the golden age
Into the human race
Altiny was born
His parents died by grace
Of a poisonous thorn
Near the cold northern shore
The child was raised by elves
In days of zealous war
When men detested elves
And hearts were filled with rage
Stout and brave, Altiny
Became of ready age
To seek his destiny.
From the cold northern shore
For his dear elfin king
Upon his breast he wore
A bright emerald ring
Tied to a golden chain
Pride of the northern elves
Symbol of elfin reign
That held some mystic spells.
At Pools of Restiny
Go find your Destiny
Into the dead’s abode
And it will be foretold
The path to end the war
Between elves and men evermore
Upon the northern sea
He set sail to the east
To seek the wizardry
Of the ancient deceased
Kings and warriors bold
Both men and elves alike
Long before hearts were cold
When valor stood for right.
A dragon-toothed arrow
Within his gold quiver
Birthed in the nymph's meadow
By the enthralled river
Was his valiant slayer
As sharp and as deadly
As an elfin saber
Engaged masterfully.
His ship was built of glass
And diamonds mined by dwarves
Silk sails on silver mast
Found within elfin turves
Sown by golden thread
Decks made of fine gemstones
Elfin flag crimson red
Night and day ever flown.
Red the color of sand
Of my now distant land
Red the color of blood
My sad crimson rose bud
Red the color of fire
My passionate desire
The sea waves played their song
As the breeze chilled his soul
While he voyaged along
Toward his unknown goal
Undaunted he remained
Committed to his course
His boldness unexplained
His heart filled with remorse
His true love left behind
Fairest elf of the shore
Their one heart intertwined
Altiny and Lenore
Keep their true love hidden
Vile prejudicial ways
Makes their love forbidden
To anger set ablaze
Long days and longer nights
His ship sailed through the storms
Creatures rose up for fights
In many dreadful forms
Altiny, his course kept
Not cowed by death nor harm
Although his seamen wept
Not eased by his great charm
In battles of the night
When evil brings fright
When all our hope seems lost
To pay for freedom’s cost
Though we be just a few
Hold onto what is true
But the crew would not sway
And threw him in the sea
During a darkened day
By evil spells decree
Maddening the elf crew
Poisoning the weak mind
With fears changing hope to
A dark reign of mankind
Altiny would have drowned
Had he not by tender
Caring pixies been found
Bright with starlike splendor
Pixies cast spells of light
Floating him to the coast
Driving away the night
Then vanishing as ghosts
He dreamed of his Lenore
A vision full of fears
From the cold northern shore
She had been gone for years
Taken by a dark Lord
On a ghostly grey mare
Bound by an evil cord
To his concealed lair
Awakened from the dream
Altiny had arrived
Near the deceased's regime
Amazed he had survived
To continue his quest
To find his destiny
To make his one request
At Pools of Restiny
At Pools of Restiny
Go find your Destiny
Into the dead’s abode
And it will be foretold
The path to end the war
Between elves and men evermore
Etched on the elfin ring
He read these words once more
His heart began to sing
Of his red northern shore
Hope renewed in his soul
As he pressed on his way
To the Pools of Restiny
For he will not betray
His quest for destiny
Over mountains and hills
Into valleys below
Evil wizards sent chills
Blocking his path with snow
‘La lumière d'émeraude fond'
‘Light of emerald melt'
The snow became a pond
By this warm spell he dealt.
Trolls would not grant passage
So arrows through their hearts
Attained him free access
Goblins shot poisoned darts
But goblins were no match
For dragon-toothed arrows
He left without a scratch
Moving through the narrows
Beyond the narrows lay
The Pools of Restiny
Only one night away
To know his destiny
Through the dark he went on
To gaze into the pool
By the breaking of dawn
For this was the dead's rule
‘Me montrer ma destinée'
‘Show me my destiny'
Uttered Altiny
At Pools of Restiny
‘Find your love left behind
Fairest elf of the shore
Be one heart intertwined
Marry your love Lenore'
Through many more perils
Altiny for his love
Would go on to travel
To unite with his love
He would find her rescued
By men the elves hated
Over the wars ensued
From vile spells of hatred
Hatred exists no more
For the true love of
Altiny and Lenore
Brought peaceful love
Between elves and men evermore
This dark fantasy poem is part of an ongoing fantasy poem series—each installment is a self-contained tale that also weaves subtle allusions to the others, creating a tapestry of epic fantasy poetry and deeply connected fantasy stories that will ultimately form one complete narrative.
For Further Reading
This is one in a series of fantasy poems
- There’s a poem on the capture of Lenore.
- There’s a poem about Lenore’s love.
- There’s a poem about how the war began.
If you like this one, check out the other: