Death Poems of a Thousand Warriors

An anthology of poems found on the bodies of slain warriors from many historical battles, compiled by the Lutrani scholar Glynren Fengeiros. Writing such a poem right before you think you might die, expressing your final thoughts, is an ancient tradition in many parts of Jesenreth. The poems in this collection range from the mournful to the humorous to the scatological.

Some sample poems, translated by Gary Wilkens:

No speeches! How can
a man die making speeches?
Just the grass, river,
mountain and tree. This is no
damn poem. Now I’m a rock.

-Unknown Warrior

In forty-nine days
I will return to this world.
See to it, dear wife,
that my shoes stay by the door
and our wedding bed stays cold.

-Tolin Lerm, Sailor of Ploi Drajit Navy

Clym we could have had
a house in the country
and books to fill its rooms.
I hold tight your broken hand,
wishing our dark blood away.

-Tresani, wife and warrior of Clym Dranea, General of Weshea

Twenty years I’ve been
a beaten dog in the rain.
A dog with a sword.
Burning rain drops ceaselessly
and puddles crowd with iris.

-Unknown Mercenary of Itrefaulk