I'm a poet and I didn't even know it! ;)

[were_lemur]

So this is sestina_week.

I've never written one, but thanks to ithiliana's tutorial, I thought I'd give it a shot. And since Denethor's been lurking around my brain ...

Far to the south a mountain does burn
surrounded by a land so harsh
few dare to pass no matter their pride
or their armor.
The very air will leave bodies cold
and etch away the strength of steel.

Gondor defends the world with steel
and blood, turning back those who would burn
their way across the lands of men, bringing cold
cruelty and harsh
rule. Gondor is the armor
of the free lands, a land of pride

and courage, and the greatest pride
is Denethor's. With his spine of steel
and shirt of mail, armor
against a war that would burn
away the weak, and a world that has proven harsh
beyond measure and cold.

But no mail can keep out the cold
that has sunk into his bones; his pride
has made him harsh
and merciless as steel.
No one would guess that his heart yet does burn
with love for one that no armor

could protect, for armor
could not keep out the cold
that let in the fever that would burn
his Finduilas away, leaving him with only his pride,
and two sons who must be forged into steel,
for the world is too harsh

for the weak, and though his sons think him harsh,
he knows that strength is the only armor
against enemies who wield more than steel.
But now, Boromir lies still and cold.
And Faramir, who possesses his brother's courage and his father's pride,
in the grip of dark fever does burn.

When comes the harsh madness and cold,
he will cast away the armor of his pride,
and steel himself to burn.