Advent, Curse Breaker, Fantasy, poem, poetry, Sarn, Shayari, Sonnet

Shopping with Mages

sunset (c) in medias res by Melinda Kucsera

Shopping with Mages

(and why you shouldn’t EVER take a mage shopping…)

[Picks up where Button Holed left off]

Water swirled past, sails lay slack and gathered,
rowers plied their oars moving the trireme
down the River Nirthal. Winter withered
what autumn left behind, a color scheme
spare and dark where naked trees stood sleeping
the winter’s sleep, dreaming of greening spring days.
What the hell was he doing here standing
’round staring as trees slide by in a daze?
Roped into a shopping trip despite doubts
about the holiday they went to shop–
“Do you know what this Christmas day’s about?”
“No school that day,” Miren let his crutch drop.
Not the answer Sarn’d sought as the mountain
neared and with it, today’s destination.

~ ~ ~

His sixth sense kept track of the boy scribbling
away, his elbow anchoring papers.
“Look! Look!” Ran crowed and held up a drawing.
Sarn’s likeness cast in graphite and paper,
Miren smirked in three-quarter view, a sketch
of Sarn’s family. “This is amazing,”
Sarn looked at his son, who smiled, then he fetched
Miren’s crutch, handed it to his staring
brother as a stone quay hove into view.
A zigguarat parked before a mountain.
Crowds mobbed its steps and disappeared from view
into the complex, into the mountain.
Sarn donned a light tight blindfold to confine
his eyes’ glow, as his party joined the line.

~ ~ ~

Pollen struck his nose as they passed florists’
arranging Christmas wreaths, which Ran described
fascinated by the beribboned twists.
Ethanol scented the air, someone ribbed
a brewer as they moved through the market.
Vociferate hawkers hawking fabric
from artificial roofs, frocks of velvet,
psychedelic washbasins and broomsticks
that fly, all on offer from ateliers.
The din and the mob made Sarn want to bolt,
but he did stay despite the crush that day.
His magic kept tabs on the all the adults.
He’d promised to accompany Nolo’s
family, so he carried their cargo.

~ ~ ~

Sarn’s sixth sense tracked Inari in the shop,
his brother and Nerule perusing books,
his son sticking close, narrating the shops,
enjoying an audience that couldn’t look.
Ran watched his father’s magic flare, its sphere
expand, wash the market in green that traced,
licked the crowded stalls, leaped over aisles, sheared
through stone walls and made Papa’s heartbeat race.
Not good, Ran signaled Inari to go.
Papa’s magic was straining his control.
Plates rattled, glasses crashed, dust rained down, though
none touched Ran in his magic, shielded bowl.
Ran backed up, the mountain shook and the ground
wobbled, shoppers fled, Ran shouted, “inbound!”

~ ~ ~

Sarn sensed knives, were they concealed? In plain view?
Some shoppers were armed with blades, but for who?
He counted the weapons, widened the view,
cast his magic further at thirty-two.
Bone knives, stone shivs, obsidian daggers,
bows and quivers, short swords, crossbow? Really?
Are any peace tied? A shiv man swaggered
towards Inari, intending to bully?
Don’t talk to her, keep moving, keep your knife
in your pocket, preferably banded.
Her husband asked me to protect his wife.
Step back or be magically backhanded.
Sarn juggled parcels, his magic crested ’till
Ran’s voice pulled him back and everything stilled.

~ ~ ~

The story continues in Beloved and the Trouble with Magical Security.

Follow Sarn’s Advent Journey

Second sonnet/stanza was inspired by Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie’s Wordle #89 and I am very thankful for the words for the market! Also, since the piece contains lots of fallacies, Poetry Rehab 101 – Fallacy.

So, how’s your holiday shopping going?

41 thoughts on “Shopping with Mages”

  1. Simply brilliant writing! Exquisite imagery, great story-telling, tight use of language:
    “Winter withered
    what autumn left behind, a color scheme
    spare and dark where naked trees stood sleeping
    the winter’s sleep, dreaming of greening spring days.”

  2. Winter withered
    what autumn left behind

    That opening is just gorgeous!

    You absolutely did take us on a journey, I could visualize everything so clearly, I could even hear and smell the market. Bravo!

  3. Phew…I am glad I shop solo and in the early mornings when most shoppers are still asleep…I actually shopped this morning at 8AM and there were on a dozen cars in the parking lot of the mall and now my shopping is done:D….great write, Melinda 🙂

    3. It’s not stressful when you have a mission and a list! I just came back from grocery shopping. It was a nice night except for the rain, but warm and the store is really close.

  5. This was a very compelling piece! I haven’t bought a thing. I am going to be losing my mind later. I can already foresee it… I reckon I have some magical powers too! 😛

    3. There is a mall out there breathing a sigh of relief right now 🙂 Though I did order a metric ton of my fav teas. That’s my present to myself, six months of really yummy teas 🙂

    1. Thanks I decided not to top their Santa/north pole visit from yesterday. So instead, some shopping drama because Sarn is the last person on earth you should ever take to a crowded area for any reason. It’s complete illogic!

Comments are closed.