So, I've been thinking about this poem since my post about Whelan's Z-World piece the other week, and I like it for many of the same reasons; it's a loving tribute that ties together a lot of disparate elements from Zelazny's career.
I remember seeing it on the old zelazny.corrupt.net, which was such a great site until it suddenly vanished one day. The poem had been written by someone under the name Trashman, and zelazny.corrupt.net was hosting it after Trashman's site went down. I'm going to do the same.
He's climbed up the stair
above Amber fair
and walked among shadows
`till no one was there
A silver red rose
flutters down through the air
his walk through the pattern has ended
and the last of the wild ones sputters and stops
while Camelot stands undefended.
Zelazny is dead
(do you hear me, Fred???)
to the ziggurat blue
has gone Dorakeen, Red
The riddle is solved
(was it feathers or lead?)
as a face in the
shadows looks on . . .
. . . a gargoyle reaches but nothing is caught
a shrugger of thunders battles his foes
an alley is crossed, a leviathan sought
pin seven is pulled and a new face is chose
a unicorn forfeits a pawn. . .
he feels the story has come to a close
he tarrys, a breath. . .
and moves on.
I like that. I think it needs one small edit to change "chose" to "chosen" but otherwise it's spot on.
ReplyDeleteI like it a lot and I'm really tremendously happy that I was able to dig up a copy.
DeleteThanks for that! I had seen this poem maybe ten years ago and then I lost the link. Finally, I happen to find it here. A happy occasion :)
ReplyDeleteGreat! I'm glad I could resurrect the poem for someone else. I had thought it gone for a long time too until I discovered that I had emailed a copy to a friend.
DeleteIt would be an interesting inclusion for the Shadows and Reflections collection too, but tracking down the author seems like it would be difficult.
Almost like tracking Francis Shadow :)
DeleteI'm glad people like the poem. I still wonder how many can get all 16 references. Feel free to re-post as you like.
ReplyDelete~trashman kwalterhouse.webs.com
OK, here's my try:
DeleteHe's climbed up the stair above Amber fair [...]
his walk through the pattern has ended
Reference: Corwin/Amber (Tir-na Nog'th, Corwin’s signature rose, the Pattern, etc.)
and the last of the wild ones sputters and stops
Reference: Murdoch & Jenny
while Camelot stands undefended.
Reference: “The Last defender of Camelot”
Zelazny is dead (do you hear me, Fred???)
Reference: DOORWAYS IN THE SAND
to the ziggurat blue has gone Dorakeen, Red
Reference: ROADMARKS
The riddle is solved (was it feathers or lead?)
Reference: The riddle of the Kallikanzaros (THIS IMMORTAL)
as a face in the shadows looks on . . .
Reference: Not sure; JACK OF SHADOWS?
. . . a gargoyle reaches but nothing is caught
Reference: Not sure about this one, either; another for DITS? (Fred climbing about up there among the gargoyles.)
a shrugger of thunders battles his foes
Reference: Francis Sandow, ISLE OF THE DEAD
an alley is crossed,
Reference: “Damnation Alley”
a leviathan sought
Reference: “The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth”
pin seven is pulled and a new face is chose[n]
Reference: TODAY WE CHOOSE FACES
a unicorn forfeits a pawn. . .
Reference: “Unicorn Variation”
he feels the story has come to a close
he tarrys, a breath. . .
and moves on.
Reference: “For a Breath I Tarry”
Not quite sixteen. C’mon, guys -- what am I missing?
--Chris DeVito
Thank you! And thanks for writing such a wonderful tribute!
ReplyDelete. . . a gargoyle reaches but nothing is caught
ReplyDeleteReference: Not sure about this one, either; another for DITS? (Fred climbing about up there among the gargoyles.)
I figured it was Morningstar reaching for Jack at the end of Jack of Shadows.
Oh, right! I should have gotten that -- it's one of my all-time favorite endings.
DeleteMan, you guys really know your Zelazny. and I apologize. After another look it's only 14 (silver-red rose does double duty) actually all the left margined stuff is supposed to be Roger giving a last look back .. but my interpretation shouldn't be any more valid than that of anyone who reads it.
ReplyDeletethanks ~t
I was just about to point out that Corwin's rose is silver while Michael Gallinger's is implied to be red. But you beat me to it.
DeleteZelazny is dead (do you hear me, Fred???) Perhaps a reference to Fred Saberhagen?
ReplyDeleteRead "doorways in the sand"
ReplyDelete