13 x 19: Lament (is a title, not my reaction to the ep!)

[crowroad]

For spnapo, a thing inspired by caranfindel's
Cold as a razor blade, tight as a tourniquet, dry as funeral drum, and by the Sam &; Rowena dance I wanted to see after 13 x19. Caranfindel's fic is dark, funny, rich, witchy, and perfect (not to mention rhythmic as a spell)--<3!

Caoinheadh

I.

Some of us are born

to the wail of the bean-shìdh

but most of us can die--

Rowena's thigh

split-seamed in scarlet

where Sam slit

the last of the charm

that was the first time.

II.

spontaneous combustion

is rarely either

when it's your time

you burn like a book

of the damned of the devil

who roasted you twice--

or a boy with the devil inside

fire of the black-plagued

pestilence, pride.

III.

You beg for it

redlets spread and trunk

of a man between your thighs:

my own true tree, my giant

who bound you with breath--

you tell him to call me your natural,

mo leannan; he tells you

to call him death.

IV.

Become the crone.

Become the wheel

of the year gone deep

in the fallow of your

three hundred fields

of mother and lease.

Flicker like tallow

in the Sam-circle

who gives you peace.

V.

Burn it all down

before it burns you.

Reapers don't bargain

but we do.

VI.

A born witch can't die

when she's drunk

from the cup of cosmos

but by the thin moon

and the sickle knife

and the blade of his old soul

you falter and fly.

VII.

Sam is bullet packed with poppy,

bless his beautiful black heart.

VIII.

Take up the runes and cast

take up the warp and the weft and the wire

and knot it red and run it over

his dear head and speak to power

and spell against, O Samuel

flow through me like fire

and let me live.


***

Caoinheadh, Scottish Gaelic, lament
mo leannan, ", my lover

Comments

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is just amazing, and every time I read a line (or re-read, or re-re-read), I say "Oh, that's my favorite part." Spontaneous combustion is rarely either, and reapers don't bargain, but we do, and bullet packed with poppy and Sam's beautiful black heart... SO GOOD. <3333

[crowroad3.livejournal.com]

Yours is SO GOOD <3!

Thank you for the inspiration, friend! So glad you like this.

[z-publicizes.livejournal.com]

I loooove this and the original fic and the whole dynamic of Sam & Rowena that we've been given. That surprising unlooked for unique understanding they keep sharing and now this bloody Gordian knot of fate. Sam is bullet packed with poppy,//bless his beautiful black heart. Rowena's POV on Sam is so interesting to me: she has a cold, clear-eyed understanding of his weaknesses, but judges them differently from anyone else in his life. It's ambiguous what about him she finds so appealing--his untapped power? similar history of trauma? compassion which she wishes she were capable of? but the affection is undeniably there and it's so interesting to me that she won't shut it off, even though we know she's extraordinarily capable of hardening her heart against those few she loves. Set that against Sam who is softer-hearted in many ways, but does still have this cut-throat pragmatism in him that makes him capable of killing a woman he truly cares about.

[crowroad3.livejournal.com]

"the whole dynamic of Sam & Rowena that we've been given": me too! (and yes, how it is both unsought and unexpected...) Also agree with your take on the shared pragmatism, the shared sharpness despite Sam's softer heart...

So glad you liked this, z!


(BTW I was just thinking about our exchange on frontiers the other day...)

[kazluvsbooks.livejournal.com]

100% BRILLIANCE!!!!!!!

[crowroad3.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you kaz!!

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

You spoil us so much!!! What a awesome piece to accompany the fic. Thank you so much for sharing :)

[crowroad3.livejournal.com]

I feel pretty spoiled by all the drabbles you post and by your awesome comments. ( :

Have a great time at the con--would love to hear your take on what it's like!