It’s been forever since I posted, kindly blame Pentathlon preparation! I did want to post a praise poem that I wrote and performed in honor of my Shire, the Shire of al-Sahid in Caid. We are located in the high desert and up two mountain ranges, thus all the references to “earth’s bones” and “mountain gates.”

We Are the People of al-Sahid
By THL Caitlin Christiana Wintour

Mountain gates guard the Shire of al-Sahid.
We are the people of the winds, of the rocks, of the deserts, of the heights.
In mountain fastness and windswept plain we dwell.
We are the people of al-Sahid, and we stand.

On our banners the armored scorpion glows.
Beneath the rockfall the scorpion waits.
Take care!
He does not seek the fight
but knows how to answer when the fight is brought to him.
Our borders are the very earth’s bones.
We are the people of al-Sahid, and we stand.

We welcome our friends, we welcome you today.
We are happy to share bread and song
And the clash of friendly swords.
For the people of the desert are a welcoming people
And we are the people of al-Sahid.

Tonight all will be silence.
The golden sun will fail and stars will shine in a dark peace.
We are the people of al-Sahid.
And like our mountains – we will stand.