The Siren of Newtonor

We sailed where the cold tides roar Past iron cliffs and broken shore Where black rock drinks the western foam And silent queens make harbors home. Newtonor burned with furnace light Red sparks that climbed the winter night But every man who drank that ale Spoke soft when telling her dark tale. They said her voice could split the sky Could break the sea and mountains high A minstrel once, a wandering flame Now cursed forever by her name. Do not ask the Siren sing Do not wake the storm she brings For when her voice begins to rise The sea itself will break and cry. Turn your prow and flee the foam Let the west wind drive you home For if the Siren sings once more No ship returns from Newtonor. The Halskapans came down in steel With axe and torch and iron heel Their banners cut the freezing air Their war horns split the harbor square. She walked alone through smoke and flame No crown of gold, no throne of fame Just pale as frost and still as stone A silent queen upon her throne. She raised her head toward the night And all the harbor fires burned white Then thunder broke the frozen sky And half the world began to die. The towers cracked. The harbor screamed. The iron hills themselves seemed torn. And when the echo finally died The sea was red and dawn was born. Do not ask the Siren sing Do not wake the storm she brings For when her voice begins to rise The sea itself will break and cry. Turn your prow and flee the foam Let the west wind drive you home For if the Siren sings once more No ship returns from Newtonor. We filled our holds with iron ore And fled that haunted western shore Yet none of us would laugh or sing Though Brechtür men love gold and drink. For in that cry I heard her grief A song no mortal heart could keep A voice that once brought hope and light Now only births the storm and night. And sometimes when the sea lies still Beyond the reefs and iron hill I swear I hear a distant tone A broken queen who sings alone. Do not ask the Siren sing Do not wake the storm she brings For beauty cursed by Azrai’s flame Will drown the world in voice and name. Turn your prow and flee the foam Pray the wind will take you home For if the Siren sings once more No ship returns from Newtonor.