She walks with purpose, a darkly purpose,
and many fear her tread.
In ancient circles, old as time itself,
her very name was dread.
She walked the Earth when it was newly-made,
and held sway even then,
Over creatures, long since extinct,
that came before the race of men.
For she is ancient, eons-old,
and often was her name sung,
By her Children in the Halls of Ulthar -
Praise to this Ancient One!
Her beauty is not wholesome,
like that of Lythalia, her sister,
Here is a seductive beauty, a feline grace,
and few can resist her.
Her love is a dark love, an unwholesome thing,
this Mistress of the Darkness,
Yet she knows her power, and plays upon this,
to draw men to this seductress.
She promises the love of a goddess,
power, wealth, immortality -
Who could resist such a deadly lure?
Not I, I tell you, not even thee!
But tell me: can a man love a goddess,
even one such as she?
For I do love her,
or so does my heart tell me.
Although once a good man,
a man of God, I would not hesitate,
To do by her whatever she demands,
no matter consecrate.
For murder, even that most terrible sin,
I would not falter.
To worship there in her fires of lust,
my seed upon her altar.
But I warn you now, her power spreads,
again she will hold sway.
Over beast and man alike, swift
approaches the Ancient Ones' day.
If you are of the fortunate few, who know her not,
avoid her lure -
For me it is too late, to her I belong,
and it is sure,
By stream or brook, in field or cave,
on hill or vale or hollow;
Wherever the road may lie, where walks Istasha,
I, too, shall follow.
Copyright 1990, 1997 James Ambuehl
First Appearance: Eldritch Tales #23 Summer 1990
First Online Appearance: Mythos Online #1
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