out of air with
flickering tongue
– Praise the glory of ISSA’s name –
3. Solitary
watched we
the turn
of seasons,
years, light as dust
lay upon us,
and uncaring we watched
and ISSA
Instructed us
(sibilant the
voice
of beloved
ISSA and wise) –
Glory to the wisdom of ISSA –
4. Coiled
we with our
brothers,
the serpents,
and kissed
the
sweet
venom from
their lipless smiles
while ISSA
watched
and guarded our
childlike play
– Praise the watchfulness of mighty ISSA –
5. But
Other Gods made war, and we knew not why.
Some trifle
that had no use or value was the cause of their contention.
Still lay we in timeless drowse, basking in sun’s
Warmth and the glory of ISSA’s gaze
– Adore the beauty of the scaled face of ISSA –
6. And
Shattered then the other Gods the earth herself, and the rocks of our dens fell in upon us, crushing the people of ISSA as they slept, and the seas rushed in, drowning the caves and the mossy dells, stilling forever the soft sibilance of our brooks and streams, engulfing the sweet land which ISSA had given us.
– Oh weep for the precious land of ISSA –
7. Journeyed
We then toward those lands where the sun makes his bed, and ISSA led us. Found we there a fair land of swamp and tangled thicket and sluggish rivers, dark beneath the trees. And our brothers, the serpents, dwelt there in abundance. And ISSA commanded us that we raise a city beside the holy River of the Serpent, and called we the name of the city Sthiss Tor in honor of the holy wisdom of ISSA.
– All praise to ISSA, cold and fair –
8. And yet
There came a time when ISSA called us to him and spake unto us, saying:
‘Behold, it has come to pass that I must depart from thee. The Gods have warred, and the earth may no longer sustain us.’
Loud were our lamentations at ISSA’s words, and we cried out unto him, saying:
‘We beseech thee, oh mighty God, absent thyself not from us, for who will lead and guide us if thou depart?’
And ISSA wept.
