Four Elements are there. In star's heart and heart's desire... Here burns Fire... Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light, Entice us -- but venture not too close, For Fire gives death too, to we who live, And those who play with Fire are always burned. Never truly tame, unstoppable once loosed, Wildfires and atom bombs, lightning and supernovae destroy. But Fire also builds; Sunfire, starfire, lifefire in our nerves, And the fire in our hearts, Our passions: love, joy, loyalty, Treachery, hatred, despair all feed our power. Its blaze consumes, searing away all pretense, Leaving truth amidst the ashes. In crises, it is our sudden strength, Giving all, unambivalent, holding nothing back. Its brilliance blinds, an inferno, And in one moment of glory Fire burns hot And burns out ......
Four Elements are there. Reckless and wild, without a care... Here blows Air Capricious winds control the sky, Bring storms and clear skies, heat and cold, Bring flood and drought We know not why, Nor can predict, Air's next direction. Change is its essence, chaos its ally, For Air cannot be captured, confined, controlled But breaks all bonds, and flies off free Leaving behind we who dare not follow, Bound by rules of life and law, Resisting that which cannot be Though Air gives us our breath, our very life, Our words, our songs, Our soaring, daring flight Into the unknown ... the unknowable. But it promises nothing, And those who jump blind off a precipice may fall instead of soar. Air knows no past, nor future, But in the ever-changing now Air blows wild And blows free . . .
Four Elements are there. In secret depths, Poseidon's daughter Here flows Water-...... The river runs cold, clean, and clear, Down to the sea, following its path For all Eternity. Aye, Water goes on as it always has, Indifferent to the living. We concern it not. But still it is the Water of Life, for ocean, primeval, pristine, Our common birthplace, nourishes us still. And Water's deep calm reason calls, seduces... To submerge ourselves wholly in its pure abstract beauty, Oblivious, as Water, to all else. But beware though 'tis indeed a useful tool. Remember now that reason is indifferent And Water makes tears too. While we are mortal, we cannot walk on Water, We drown.... And Water, caring not what we may try, Continues, ceaseless, Doing Time's work. Water flows pure And flows on.
Four Elements are there. Eternal rock to life gives birth. Here stands Earth. Mountains rise to pierce the sky. The horizon's rulers, challenged but briefly, Never defeated. Earth has risen so Ere any memory, and still shall rise When all else has passed, faded, and gone. Beneath our feet, above our heads, In soil or diamonds, still it is there. Earthsurrounds us always, our cradle and grave, Dust to dust -- though lives may end, Life is renewed, through Earth's agency. Thus we endure, through fire, flood, and storm, Through fear and despair, Earth remains strong. Creatures of clay, we may be molded, or killed - But not destroyed. Earthendures unchanged, Through all such attacks, strengthened by trials. Giver of life, foundation of the world. Our one sure support. Earthstands firm .... And stands ever.
This is a traditional teaching-poem about the Elements. The original is written in a Rihannsu form of poetry called cyclic verse, which consists of two or more stanzas, usually in the same length and format, discussing different aspects of the same thing or describing one idea from several viewpoints. The order of the stanzas in cyclic verse is arbitrary, since they are all equal. This is only one of several possible English translations, since many Rihannsu words and idioms have no exact English equivalent. This translation by Louise M. Auerhahn of the Institute of Ra'tleighfi.