With Ice Dragon looming and Arts & Sciences on our collective minds, the following poem seems to beautifully capture what many of us have gone through, are going through, and will go through, in our never-ending quest to make the thing. Enjoy!

Weaving your dreams

for Maestra Elisif Gydasdottir

The first time you saw it,
You knew from the start
That thing they were making
It captured your heart
Igniting your dreams, you had found your key
“One day -I just know it- the maker will be me!”

Weaving your dreams with threads spun of gold,
Until those dreams blossom, and a wreath then unfolds
So heart all afire
You set on your path,
Materials were needed
But God, what was what?You tried all the wrong things and some right ones too
But all of a sudden, it was a thing you could do

Sewing your dreams, with fabric by the bolt
Until those dreams blossom and a wreath then unfolds

Not perfect, not pretty
That very first try
But proud as a mother
Until time passes by
Then all of a sudden, flaws were all you could see
And you started thinking, it may NOT be for me.
Singing your dreams, with verses so old until those dreams blossom and a wreath then unfolds

But then someone saw you
and all that you tried
A hand on your shoulder
always there when you cried
They traveled along you, they shared their own art
They gave you their time and a piece of their heart.
Beading your dreams with glass bright and bold
Until those dreams blossom and a wreath then unfolds

And all of a sudden
Or after long years
Your skills started flying
More joy now than tears
Some projects you bled on, or cursed, sometimes both
But people were talking, they noticed your growth

Giving voice to your dreams with stories you told
Until those dreams blossom and a wreath then unfolds

The project of doom
Cost you nights without rest
doubts, tears, and yet trust now
Because it would be your best
You knew the way forward, right from the start
Because that thing you were making
had captured your heart.

Weaving your dreams with threads spun of gold,
Until those dreams blossom, and a wreath then unfolds

Your name is well known now
your guidance they seek
From student to teacher
for the bold and the meek
Who say as they sit and and they look at your art
“That thing you are making has captured my heart.”

The poem was written by Baroness Machteld Cleine in 2020, for her friend Ellisif Gydasdottir who was given her writ to sit vigil at Gulf Wars to contemplate joining the order of the Laurel. Her friend had mentioned that while there were many songs in one way or another of the journey from squire to knighthood, there were none that came to mind about an apprentice’s journey to the becoming a master or mistress of their craft.

Baroness Machteld said “As a friend.. I had to try and fix that.” She wrote this poem, which has the wonderful potential to be put to music, to make the event special for her. It was intended to be performed on site, but due to the Plague has been shared on paper, for now. Baroness Machteld wants it to be also available for others, as well as honoring her mentor Mistress Marion Leoncina di Susa and all the other people who ‘guide’ along the road.