https://youtu.be/0rB52HCEDQM

Enjoy this reading of the poem Song of the Ice Reaver by Michael Williams. This poem first appeared in Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home, released in 1987. Buy Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home: https://amzn.to/39TClwb

Song of the Ice Reaver

I am the one who brought them back.I am Raggart I am telling you this.Snow upon snow cancels the signals of iceOver the snow the sun bleeds whitenessIn cold light forever unbearable.And if I do not tell you thisThe snow descends on the deeds of heroesAnd their strength in my singingLies down in a core of frost rising no moreNo more as the lost breath crumbles.

Seven they were from the hot lands(I am the one who brought them back)Four swordsmen sworn in the NorthThe elf-woman LauranaThe dwarf from the floes of stoneThe kender small-boned as a hawk.Riding three blades they came to the tunnelTo the throat of the only castle.

Down among Thanoi the old guardiansWhere their swordsmen carved hot airFinding tendon finding boneAs the tunnels melted red.Down upon minotaur upon ice bearAnd the swords whistled againBright on the corner of madnessThe tunnel knee-high in armsIn claws in unspeakable thingsAs the swordsmen descendedBright steam freezing behind them.

Then to the chambers at the castle heartWhere Feal-thas awaited lord of dragons and wolvesArmored in white that is nothingThat covers the ice as the sun bleeds whiteness.And he called on the wolves the baby-stealersWho suckled on murder in the lairs of ancestors.Around the heroes a circle of knives of cravingAs the wolves stalked in their master's eye.

And Aran the first to break the circleHot wind at the throat of Feal-thasBrought down and unraveledIn the reel of the hunt perfected.Brian the next when the sword of the wolf lordSent him seeking the warm lands.All stood frozen in the wheel of razorsAll stood frozen except for Laurana.Blind in a hot light flashing the crown of the mindWhere death melts in a diving sunShe takes up the Ice ReaverAnd over the boil of wolves over the slaughterBearing a blade of ice bearing darknessShe opened the throat of the wolf lordAnd the wolves fell silent as the head collapsed.

The rest is short in the telling.Destroying the eggs the violent get of the dragonsA tunnel of scales and ordureFollowed into the terrible larderFollowed further followed to treasure.There the orb danced blue danced whiteSwelled like a heart in its endless beating(They let me hold it I brought them back).Out from the tunnel blood on blood under the iceBearing their own incredible burdenThe young knights silent and tatteredThey came five now onlyThe kender last small pockets bulging.I am Raggart I am telling you this.I am the one who brought them back.