The following poem works backwards from the obvious rhyme schema on page 657 of Wise Man’s Fear.

In the scenes between Kvothe and Felurian, Felurian speaks in a meter all her own

…and Kvothe picks up on this practice later, as he grows his intimate “knowing” of Felurian’s world. I have cut it off before it spoils anything, but if you click to continue reading, it might ruin something.

would my sweet flame like
a coat? a cloak?
you are not good at keeping
yourself safe, my kvothe.
you are not a fighter.
yet you are all iron-bitten.
you are a sweet bird that cannot fly.
no bow. no knife. no chain.

you are a long walker.
you find me in the wild at night.
you are a deep knower.
and bold. and young.
and trouble finds you
would my sweet poet like a shaed?

a shadow.
another I would give a shield,
and it would keep him safe from harm.
another I would gift with amber,
bind a scabbard tight with glamour,
or craft a crown so men might look
on you with love.

but not for you. you are a night walker.
a moon follower. you must be safe
from iron, from cold, from spite.
you must be quiet. you must be light.
you must move softly in the night.
you must be quick and unafraid.
this means I must make you a shaed.

come. ciar nalias! quietly, they come.
sometimes slow seduction is the only way
the gentle shadow fears the candleflame.
how could your fledgling shaed not feel the same?

grammarie: the art of making things be
glamourie: the art of making things seem

you are my precious newborn lamb.
look! there hangs a cloud as well!
(Look! The moon!) amouen! dance for joy!
foolish sweet, there is only one moon.
we have been waiting on her, she will help

us enbighten your shade.
there is only one slender slip of her here.
she is still mostly in the mortal now.
oh moon. I perish for kisses.
why have you brought me an owl
when I desired a man? how? how? how?
thank you moon. for this sweet and lusty manling.
come my kissing owl, and
I will show to you the workings of the moon…

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Of course, I don’t have it nailed, but I have it close enough that you can both feel and see the first faint hints of her gossimer glow. Enjoy the meter.

cover image from  galleryhip

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