Pre-Poetry Lesson Poetry Lesson

[Catisune]

In which Accepted Amilya seeks Catisune Sedai's advice before class. Novice Lexiane also featured.

*

The door smoothly swings open.

Amilya has arrived from the south.

Amilya curtseys gracefully.

Catisune gestures at the door with her hand.

Amilya says 'Good day, Aes Sedai.'

The door silently swings shut and lock with a soft *click*.

Amilya says 'I was wondering if you might have a few moments before your class to speak with me.'

Catisune says 'It is a fine day, dear, but let's not oversell it.'

Catisune smiles softly to soften the sting of her words.

Amilya blinks, her face coloring.

Catisune sits in one of the plush chairs facing the Ajah Study windows. She beckons to the empty one opposite her.

Amilya strides to the empty chair and has a seat.

Amilya runs her fingers through her auburn hair, composing herself.

Amilya says 'Aes Sedai, I was wondering if I might have some help with something.'

Catisune says 'Wonder away. I shall not stop you.'

Amilya blinks, a look of confusing flashing across her face.

Amilya clears her throat, trying to regain confidence.

Amilya says 'This is somewhat pertinent to your class, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune taps her lip thoughtfully.

Amilya says 'You see, Lord Shinobi of Tarabon did me a great service helping recover a ter'angreal from Amador.'

Catisune says 'You have piqued my abundant curiosity, dear.'

Catisune nods, the bun atop her head in danger of freeing itself.

Amilya says 'In compensation for his aid, he asked me to write something to help draw people to the nation of Tarabon.'

Amilya looks around uncertainly.

Auburn wavelets frame a face with disproportionately large nose. Her green
eyes have a fiery spark betraying a depth of emotion held just under
control.

Amilya is in excellent condition.
Amilya is healthy.

Amilya reaches into her bag and pulls out a small, well-worn leather book.

Amilya says 'I have written him a poem, Aes Sedai, as I am fond of doing so.'

Catisune says 'Before me, the Poet Laureate of Tarabon. I am suitably intrigued.'

Amilya says 'But I am unsure if it is any good.'

Catisune has lost interest in the sheaf of papers cluttering her lap. She tosses them to the floor.

Amilya says 'Perhaps you could give me some tips to improve it before I present it to Lord Shinobi?'

Amilya looks at Catisune expectantly.

Catisune says 'I would be honored.'

Catisune smiles so briefly that the Accepted before her probably imagined it.

Amilya opens the small book and opens it to a marked page that is filled with words written in a cramped hand.

Amilya gives the book to Catisune Sedai.

Catisune is carrying:

Amilya says 'This is the poem I wrote, Aes Sedai.'

Would that I could go to Tanchico
Feel the fine sand beneath my toes
As cold waves lap against my feet
A gilded sun hanging
High in a summer sky
But I can only read about such beauty
From dusty library books

The White Tower spire dominates
But it is a lonely one
In Tanchico towers dazzle
All across the western shore
The nobles on their balconies
Drinking chilled mulled wine
Cool breezes kissing their cheeks

Below the workers drone
Performing labor night and day
The richest city in the world
As Lord Shinobi states
Propped up on the back of those
Who must toil from dusk til dawn
As unable to enjoy the seashore
As me in my library room

For these workers, the Civil Watch,
Patrols the alleyways and stores
Removing thugs and criminals
Spending their signing bonuses
On dicing, girls, and ale

Would that I could go to Tanchico
See it all with my own eyes
For now I can only imagine
This gem on the Aryth Shore

Amilya spreads her hands wide.

Catisune skims the poem quickly, her profile reminiscent of a prey bird with that large, beaky nose.

Catisune says 'Yes, I see.'

Amilya says 'I was hoping to show the dichotomy of this country that is perceived to be very rich, but likely abuses its workers.'

Catisune says 'Did you intend the meter? It is a bit clunky, but I feel it forming.'

Amilya says 'I also don't want to be too obvious.'

Amilya says 'I intended some form of meter, yes.'

Catisune says 'What was your prosodic intention, dear?'

Amilya says 'I was not well-educated in the formation of poetry.'

Amilya scrunches her brow.

Catisune says 'Parts verge on blank verse, and others on anapestic trimeter.'

Amilya repeats the Aes Sedai tentatively. 'Pro-so-dic?'

Amilya looks around, confusion plain on her face.

Catisune says 'Are you familiar with the concept of a poetic foot, dear?'

Amilya looks to her own feet.

Amilya says 'No, I'm afraid I'm not, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune clucks as a bird might.

Catisune says 'What are they teaching you girls?'

Amilya says 'I did not have any formal schooling until I came to the White Tower.'

Catisune says 'A prosodic foot is merely a unit of verse--it is how we group the syllables of a line to interpret its meter, or where the particular emphasis falls.'

Amilya takes another notebook and quill out of her backpack and begins to take notes.

Catisune says 'The most common is the iamb--a two syllable foot with the stress falling on the second syllable.'

Catisune says 'da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM'

Catisune swats her leg at each 'DUM' to arrive at a peculiar emphasis.

Catisune says 'Sedai is an iamb, for the emphasis falls on the second syllable.'

Catisune says 'Do you understand, dear?'

Amilya writes in large letters 'da DUM - iambic'

Amilya says 'I think so, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Here is my suggestion.'

Catisune says 'While your imagery is vivid and you are quite clever, your audience may not share that attribute.'

Catisune says 'I suggest revising this poem so that it is written in iambs--any number is fine, but I find 4 or 5 per line should suit. We would call the former iambic tetrameter and the latter iambic pentameter.'

Catisune says 'Once you achieve this, consider an alternating rhyme scheme. It may offend your poet's soul, but your audience shall love it.'

Catisune says 'I should see the revision on my desk upon its completion, of course.'

Amilya says 'Of course, Aes Sedai. I thank you for your help with this.'

Catisune says 'What questions have you?'

Amilya reaches for her book before stopping herself.

Catisune says 'I fear I can blather on when tempted with poetry.'

Catisune snaps the book shut with a clack and returns it to the Accepted.

Amilya says 'I...I don't think I have any questions at the moment, Catisune Sedai.'

Amilya says 'I look forward to learning more in your class today.'

Catisune says 'Beginning in a manner of moments, it would seem.'

Catisune says 'Perhaps you can entertain me while we wait.'

Amilya nods, packing up her two notebooks.

Amilya looks at the Aes Sedai, wide-eyed. 'I can try, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'I suspect you can.'

Catisune says 'Have you apprenticed to an Ajah, Accepted?'

Amilya says 'I am apprenticed to the White Ajah, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune scoffs, the noise so audible that Danelle looks up from her correspondence.

Catisune says 'I thought one with such an aptitude for poetry would be better suited for my tutelage.'

Catisune says 'What compelled you, dear?'

Amilya scratches her head with her forefinger.

Someone knocks on the carveddoor from the other side.

Catisune allows the silence to stretch between the pair like spun sugar.

Catisune feels the flows of saidar coursing through her body.

Catisune gestures with her hand.

The door smoothly swings open.
A novice has arrived from the south.

Amilya says 'I am drawn to the White because I find that the results of anything I do are better when I can be unemotional, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane has arrived from the south.

Catisune gestures with her hand.

Lexiane curtseys gracefully.
Lexiane says 'Hello, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'Hello, Accepted'

A young woman in novice whites stands here. Her large, doe eyes a deep
brown. Her head is shaved bald, and shines when the light hits it.

Lexiane is in excellent condition.
Lexiane is healthy.

Amilya looks from the novice to the Aes Sedai.

Lexiane is clearly out of breath.

Catisune says 'Well, close the door, or we shall be catching flies, dear.'

Lexiane says 'Aes Sedai, I apologize'

Lexiane closes the carveddoor.

Lexiane blushes.

Catisune says 'Come here.'

Lexiane says 'Yes, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane marches over to Catisune.

Catisune calls Lexiane to her side in the plush chair upon which she perches.

Catisune says 'May I?'

Catisune gestures toward the Novice's bald pate.

Lexiane says 'Of course, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune rubs Lexiane's head with spindly fingers.

Lexiane leans her head forward.

Catisune says 'For luck.'

Lexiane lets out an involuntary 'Oooh' of pleasure.

Lexiane coughs loudly.

Lexiane says 'I hope it helps, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'I came to petition admittance to your class, Aes Sedai.'

[Raeza]

I don't have your way with words, sister, but I have tried to put this in anapestic trimeter so you can understand:

Now, despite that I clearly perceive
that you tempt an apprentice from me,
if you say to the Silver 'receive'
you will find an award of qp.

(Awarded Catisune and Amilya)


(Edited to add for transparency/record-keeping:)

Rplizer +1 qps : Y
Extra meticulous edit +1 qps : N
Length bonus +1-2 qps : N
Summary: +1 qps : N

Total:
Catisune: 3 rpqps
Amilya: 2 rpqps

[Morella]

someone award Raeza for the verse please.

[Catisune]

Now, despite that I clearly perceive
that you tempt an apprentice from me,
if you say to the Silver 'receive'
you will find an award of qp.

Be still my heart!

Definitely going in my little book.

Edit: Awarded Raeza rpqps for the poem. She knows what to do to receive them.