Silver and Roses, Henna and Myrrh

THE ENNUNMENT CANTO 2

Sister Olezconia with Another Nun

Negotiations for the kingly year

That Ajinblambia upon Ung’s throne

Would sit had been concluded, her career

Prolongable if she the realm would own

Thereafter and until the day she died,

Provided only she prove apt for rule,

And she and Udi will such reign. Beside,

Another clause within the franchise dual

Invested in the Vrikshaya the powers

To forebespeak and foreordain my fate,

Inditing the agenda of my hours

For all the years she should preside the state.

The liberty to treat me as she would,

In fact, was the condition she’d required

In order for to make, for ill or good,

The promise that the Queen from her desired.

So, it was more than curiosity

Inspiring me to listen as they talked,

With majesty and luminosity,

Of Ung, where many billions worked and walked,

And of Mecnita, capital of Ung,

The mighty kingdom of the planet Nya.

I wondered also whither I’d be flung,

If to a country seat, retreat or spa

They’d send me, or to Ufzu or to Ub.

’Twas certain from the city I’d depart.

I’d leave the chiefest town, Ung’s nave and hub,

And towards another clime my journey start.

“No doubt, O King,” said Udi, with a blush,

As she pronounced the royal vocative,

“You’ll need some time, you will not want to rush,

To specify the ablative and locative

Of Vocno’s relocation and new home,

If that you do elect that he away

As if in short-term banishment do roam,

While you, more carefree, in our palace stay.

At least though, please declare the hour and day

Of your enunciation of the fate

He willy-nilly always must obey.

The data and particulars please state.”

Then Ajinblambia, with regal mien,

Responded nonchalantly, “Very well,

I can decide this matter now, O Queen.

I need no time his fortune to foretell.

I’m ready at this minute, if you please,

To name the persons, places, times and things

I’ve written in his book, the ABC’s

Of the new alphabet his future brings.”

Then Udi said, “In that case, yes indeed,

Relate to us what Vocno is to do,

And I’ll see to it he perform the deed

And run the errand now prescribed by you.”

The Vrikshaya commanded, “Let him dwell

Forever in the convent as a nun,

And let him on his beads of rosewood tell

The number of the litanies he’s done.

Let him be clad in habit to the floor,

With barbe and coif surrounding his sweet face,

And think of royalty’s éclat no more,

Preferring chastity’s more gentle grace.”

I was aghast; the Queen herself was shocked.

“Why will Your Majesty for life commit

Our Vocno to a nunnery, tight locked,

Unto a convent he may never quit?

Since you have but a year agreed to reign,

And so may abdicate, why not immure

Him likewise but four seasons to remain

Lest he in his longevity endure

The cloister though you have done off the crown?

So then upon expiry of the term,

If you elect ne’ermore to put it down,

You will be able Vocno to confirm

Perennial and perpetual a nun,

If it do please you,” Udi did beseech.

To me her words were like a ray of sun

That penetrated clouds above a beach.

I was reluctant even for a year

To undergo the strictitude and rigor

That all the girls and women rightly fear.

I didn’t have the energy or vigor.

But for a lifetime meekly to obey

An abbess as a child obeys her nurse

Would constitute a burden I daresay

Than which no other burden could be worse.

But Ajinblambia explained her mind,

“If I do that it will appear that I’ve

A mere detainee, not a nun, confined.

This would with etiquette and manners strive,

As if the olden convent were profane,

A doss house, an asylum or a jail.

Why should I cause the abbess suchlike pain?

Let me confine him in the nunnish pale

Forever now, in principle, instead.

Then if I shall have chosen to resign

And take the crown of Ung from off my head,

His nunhood to amnesia to consign

It’s possible I’ll choose, or leave intact

Instead th’ ennunment I’ve just now prescribed,

According to my mood and to the act

I shall draw up and duly have inscribed

Before that time,” said she of raven hair.

Queen Udi seemed dismayed. She looked at me

Apologizing for my foot caught in the snare

Unthinkingly she’d looped about my knee.

Both she and I implicitly foreknew

That neither she nor I could bend the will

Of Ajinblambia. We could but rue

The destiny that I must now fulfil.

“O Vocno, are there habits in your suite?

They say they saw you dressed like to a nun,

That you go clad in habits on the street.

I wager in your quarters there is one.”

I uttered half my glossary to say

A simple, “Yes”. Thereat she asked of me,

“But is it made in the Defdefan way?

Their pattern does it follow faithfully?”

The other half now I did answer, “No.”

I couldn’t mention that their canon rules

That nobody the skirting stitch or sew.

The skirts are made by looms with special tools.

“Oh, no?” did Ajinblambia repeat,

“I wonder where Defdefan nunnish weeds

We can obtain, if haply on the street

There is a clothier to fulfil our needs.”

Queen Udi mentioned that she still possessed

The habit she had worn the day we flew,

The day that with the nuns we travelled west

By train to Fwascren, far from Plubac’s crew.

“Go fetch your habit,” now the King did bid,

And Udi, quick to show docility,

Sprang up and in her dressing room now hid.

Returning shortly, with agility

Behind herself two russet leather bags

With brazen zippers, each a hassock’s size,

She drew. On each there were some baggage tags.

She stopped and left them right before our eyes.

“In here, there are the coif, the barbe, the wimple,

The skirt and bodice of the habit too,

The camisole and petticoats, the simple

Brassiere and panties, both quite fresh and new.

The stockings and the garters are inside,

The sash and beads and either low-heeled shoe,

The implements of the trousseau beside:

The bit, the bonds, the mask, the pillows too."

Thus speaking, one by one she now withdrew

The garments, neatly folded, pressed and wrapped

In envelopes of vinyl, and she threw

Them on the oaken table, as she snapped

The garters and the panties to make sure

They had sufficient elasticity.

At last thereout the shoes she did procure.

“They fit so right, it is felicity.”

The King of Ung then looked the room unto

Queen Udi’d tugged the leathern bags wherefrom,

“What is the nature of the room whence you,

With bags behind you, docilely did come?”

“That is my gynaeceum, my boudóir.

Therein a score of dresses I maintain

Lest haply at midday I must afar

On business go,” Queen Udi did explain,

“To my apartment then I needn’t go,

But rather in this dressing room change garb.”

The Vrikshaya inquired, “You will, I trow,

Let Vocno enter to do on his barbe

And all the other biliments you’ve brought.”

“Yes, surely, there are table, mirror, chair,

The best appointments money’s ever bought,

With scents and oil and brushes for the hair.”

The new-crowned, long-haired, lovely lady King

Said, “Vocno, gather up the nunnish weeds

And to the gynaeceum quickly spring,

For to endue yourself now you must needs.

A law I prómulgate for you to hark.

Henceforth in habit only may you walk,

Regardless whether it be light or dark.

No diction not Defdefan may you talk.

Unruliness and indocility

To this new law a crime will reckoned be,

You’ll always have to show ability

To pray a prayer and kneel upon a knee.

Have I made clear my wishes?” “Yes,” said I,

Then hurried to the Queen’s boudóir to dress.

All of a sudden, I was keen to try

The weeds, my zeal I scarcely could suppress.

It suddenly was obvious to me

That all the portents that had foreordained

My cloistered destiny did quite agree

With the commandment of the one who reigned.

This was the joyous, fortunate fruition

Of all the tokens given from on high

That signalled my eventual tuition

Inside the cenoby till that I die.

In Udi’s lovely little dressing room,

I took from out its envelope each weed.

I spread each on the table, and did groom

Myself, undressing quickly, as per need.

Then smoothing and in powder fingering,

Each garment to my face I did bring near

That I might smell and taste the lingering

Of Udi’s fresh immaculacy dear.

I was in raptures, ecstasy and bliss.

I was transported to the other world

As every seam and placket I did kiss.

My former clothes into the chute I hurled.

I slid into the stockings, creamy white,

The garters I did loop my thighs withal,

Adjusting them till they were almost tight

For I would not that either stocking fall.

Now carefully the panties I drew up

And snapped the band about my slender waist.

Unto each breast I pressed the conic cup

Of my brassiere. Each strap I neatly placed

Upon my narrow shoulders, frail and thin.

I let the camisole drop down my arms,

And, taking up the petticoats, stepped in,

Delighted with their flouncy, frilly charms.

I should describe the way the skirt was made.

A loom did weave a circle seven feet

Without a seam or hem. Nor shears nor blade

Cut out the cashmere from a larger sheet.

The selvedge at the waist was woven round.

Tradition with those lovely nuns was such.

I put this on. The folds did spill around.

They tumbled down till they the floor did touch,

Like to a swaying palisade of wool.

Thereafter I picked up the bodice snug

And o’er my head with expertise did pull.

I straightened it adeptly with a tug.

Its sleeves were like my skirt. Like a cascade

Or violet inverted, they hung down.

Across the dressing room did I glissade

With joyousness transcendent. I would crown

Myself in barbe and coif and wimple then.

What preternatural serenities

Suffused my heart of hearts now and again

As I enjoyed these sweet amenities!

Next I put on the shoes with two inch heels

And snapped the strap my ankles looping ’round.

My shawl, which warm, when it is chilly, feels,

About my shoulders I then proudly wound.

Impalming my black purse by its thin strap

And picking up my gloves, perchance I glanced

Into the glass. Imposing was my wrap!

I felt so satisfied I could have danced.

But I decided rather to subdue

My exultation and my soaring joy,

Lest Ajinblambia and Udi rue

My nunnish destiny, their clever ploy,

And find another thing for me instead,

A penance more condign, if I were right

To reckon this as punishment. I said

Unto myself, “I’d better look contrite

Than radiant.” I therefore sober grew,

Appearing placid, staid and dignified,

And stepped from out the dressing room in view

To see if my demeanor signified

What I would have it signify, but they

In unison did chime, “O Vocno, beautiful!

You are the fairest sister of the day,

So proud, erect, reserved and dutiful!”

They oohed and aahed. Such kudos and éclat!

You’d think that I had worked a miracle

By putting on a panty and a bra,

Their praises were rhapsodic, lyrical.

Eventually, excitement did abate,

While we three all together ate a lunch

Of salad, buns and cutlets, with a plate

Of pastries and of golden dates a bunch.

Now Ajinblambia addressed the Queen,

“My darling royal Udi, you remarked

That a ‘trousseau’ was in the bags, between

A couple of the garments, as I harked,

But I confess I did not comprehend

The meaning of ‘trousseau’ that you implied.

Will you define it that I may attend

Your disquisition, for I’ve vainly tried?”

“Oh, that!” said Udi, “They observe a rite

Including rigor and austerity.

To certain that the sisters are contrite

They mortify them with severity.

Inside the convent’s atrium each day,

The postulants two hours are gagged and tied.

The binding is according to the way

Prescribed by old traditions true and tried.”

“How interesting is this thing you tell!

They bind the nuns two hours every day!

It’s absolutely medieval! Well!

I hardly can believe these news today!”

Quoth royal Udi, “It is true, I wot,

They bind the postulants. Tight bonds they wear.”

Asked Ajinblambia, “Did Vocno not

Such gagging and such binding have to bear?”

“Of course he did, each morning. Is it true?”

Asked Udi, who now faced me. I said, “Yes.”

“Each morning for his ninety days, he knew

Exquísite agony and sore distress.”

The Vrikshaya was curious, I saw.

It’s likely she had never heard such tales.

Defdefa’s the lone convent where, by law,

The abbess may inflict suchlike travails.

“Queen Udi, do you know to tie the bows

Wherein Defdefa’s postulants are tied?

I’d like to witness the religious throes

Whereby their faith and chastity are tried.”

“I do,” the lady of meridian

And parallel and tropic did reply,

“And in the bag, their enchiridion

I have, their book that shows the way to tie.

Shall I perform the binding?” I foreknew,

Of course, what Ajinblambia would say,

And girt myself for what the Queen would do.

This was a memorable, fateful day!

From out a leathern bag the Queen did take

Two pillows, made of poplin darkly red.

The smaller was in shape like to a cake,

The larger like the bolster on a bed.

The cake-shaped pillow she put on the floor,

Upon the costly rug ’twas spread withal.

She bade me kneel on top of it, before

Her eyes, assisting me lest I should fall.

I pulled my cashmere skirt down straight, and knelt.

Next to my knees did Udi hoist its fold,

Removing my two shoes and leathern belt,

She left my stockinged calves exposed and cold.

That cylinder, the larger pillow, now

She slipped beneath my ankles, raising high

The right one, then the left one, to allow

Their careful placement thereupon nearby.

My lower shins now rested, but my toes

Were elevated inches o’er the rug.

My medial malleoli did close

Against each other tight as you might tug.

Now royal Udi five black scarves of crepe,

Each measuring five feet, to light produced,

And placed them on the table, next my cape,

There where unto her work she felt conduced.

The first black scarf she sev’ral times did loop

My ankles both around to tie them snug,

And left but little ends that scarce did droop,

Then pulled my skirt back down with just a tug.

She circled one more scarf about my waist

Two times and tied it so that I was cinched.

Sensations in my hips were soon effaced

Because the makeshift sash so sorely pinched.

She bade me at this juncture to sit back

Until my buttocks on my heels did press.

With her third scarf, when threaded without slack.

She tied the other two with strain and stress.

Now was it that I could not rise again.

My bottom, anchored firmly low and deep,

A millimeter’s leeway lacking then,

Soon tingled and grew numb and fell asleep.

My trumpet sleeves like fuchsias upside down

Or swishing skirts around my slender arms

The Queen pinned to the shoulders of my gown

With little pins with heads like magic charms.

“Give me your elbows, Vocno. Should I say,

Dear Sister Rogizlenia, I mean?”

Not daring disobedience display,

I joined my elbows for the royal Queen

Behind my back, though they did not quite touch

Until the Queen another scarf did zone

Them both around, and tauten very much

That length of crepe till bone impinged on bone.

The fifth scarf she did bracelet me withal.

The silken handcuffs sev’ral times did ring

My wrists, but still a meter’s length did fall

And to my garb electrically did cling.

This little streamer Udi threaded through

The loop about my ankles and then back,

Exerting all the effort she could do,

Till I could hear my bones sound a slight crack.

Immobile as a statue made of lime,

I knelt in helpless agony and pain.

However, in two hours’ fleeting time

I’d be delivered from the pious strain.

“How very curious! How quaint indeed!

I didn’t know the nuns performed this rite.

I’d say the strictures of their olden creed

Seem likely nunnish virtue to excite.

Undoubtedly devout docility

Devolves upon Defdefa’s dutiful,

Upon the ones that show ability

Through rigors to be rendered beautiful.”

The goddess Ajinblambia bepraised

The mystery of which she’d seen the sight.

In diction of finality, she praised

The efficacious ritual and rite.

I mean she seemed to think that that was all,

Scarce realizing we were halfway done,

For she was royal; she was great and tall.

She nothing knew of nunnery and nun.

“Well, won’t you see the rest?” the Queen inquired.

“You mean there’s more? I didn’t understand.”

“Oh, yes! Some further measures are required.”

“Then, yes, the canon please don’t countermand.”

100

From out the bag, a cellophane-wrapped ball

An apple’s size, but colored pearly white,

The Queen extracted, and eftsoons let fall

The shiny wrapper. When I saw this sight,

101

Without instruction I my mouth oped wide,

While Udi with her fingers and her thumb

The ball of coated putty pressed inside.

The ball did taste and smell like minty gum,

102

Like resin full of rue or savory.

Queen Udi forced it in the cavity.

It was as if my mouth in slavery

Travailed beneath o’erwhelming gravity.

103

She bade me bite until my teeth did rest,

The uppers on the lowers, like a lock.

The ball with soft epoxy paste was dressed.

Five minutes passed; my mouth was like a rock.

104

Then she got out the mask, resembling more

A giant’s boot or legging for the head.

This was the implement that long I wore

As soon as I was risen from my bed

105

Inside the nunnery, and had been bound.

The mask would cover my whole neck and head,

Both front and sides and back and all around.

Its bottom on my shoulder she’d embed.

106

Two layers, one of stretchy denim, sewn

To one of tufted satin, black on black,

Composed the mask, whose opening was thrown

Down from the crown unto my upper back.

107

On either side the opening a score

Of metal eyelets all set in a row,

Just like a corset’s, momently before

She slipped the mask on me and pulled it low,

108

She threaded with a lace of sturdy string,

Allowing it to be both slack and free,

But once she had emplaced the drastic thing,

She drew the cord as tight as tight could be,

109

The mask had two small sleeves. Hinged rings therein,

Like those of handcuffs, had been sewn in place.

One fitted underneath my jaws and chin,

As if it had been a prosthetic brace.

110

The other on my shoulder bones did rest.

In other sleeves, ten stays of metal, flexed,

Rose vertically from ring to ring. When stressed

By Udi’s pulling and her tying next,

111

The stays did straighten out and push apart

The pair of rings so that my neck grew tall.

The rings then closed. There was a metal part

That kept them from reopening at all.

112

It was as if my head, fixed on its jack,

Were but a billiard ball within the toe

Of an elastic stocking, tough and black,

Which someone pulled, to see if it would go

113

Into a pipe much smaller than itself,

So that it lodged in the pipe’s open end.

The Queen took a small lock from off a shelf

And in the lowest eyelets did append.

114

My coif and barbe, which earlier the Queen

Had taken, she replaced, my sleeves dropped back.

Then she tossed over me the gabardine,

That is, the lovely wimple, soft and black.

115

My shoes upon the floor beside me lay,

But Udi put my mantle on my form,

To hide the knots. So seemed I but to pray.

All seemed unto the canon to conform,

116

Except my face, once pink, was black as dye,

Small perforations in the mask there were.

One ’neath each nostril, one before each eye.

I saw both Ajinblambia and her,

117

As if they had been figures, wrought in art,

Upon a tondo painted with rich oils.

As for myself, I played no social part,

But struggled with my bonds and loops and coils.

118

Till that no muscle could I flex or stretch,

Except to whimper or to bat my eyes.

The strains of conversation could I cätch.

I was a nun of porcelain, of goodly size,

119

Like to an ornament, or bric-à-brac,

A gewgaw or a talisman or charm,

Like to a figurine in white and black,

Or bangle dangling on a goddess’ arm.

120

Ten feet before me stood a mauve chaise longue.

The holes before my eyes were large enough

To let me see the piece, well-built and strong,

With cushions padded with resilient stuff.

121

Thereon, the ladies sat for to relax,

While Udi called a palace butlery,

Requesting sparkling wine and luscious snacks,

With corkscrew, glasses, plates and cutlery.

122

Some minutes later came a robot maid,

A wheeled cabinet with drink and food.

The ladies ate a supper and then stayed,

Enlivening with burgundy their mood.

123

Queen Udi wore a saffron velvet gown,

With lace of ivory and dainty rosepoint trimmed.

The neckline to her cleavage circled down.

The snug corsage her graceful midriff slimmed,

124

Then widened to become a bell-shaped skirt,

Whereunder there were crinolines of net.

A flouncy petticoat beneath the hem did flirt.

Upon her brow a rose pearl cirque was set.

125

A row of fifty buttons, caught in loops

Of saffron cord, reached from her bosom sweet

Down to her hem. Her pumps, like glossy scoops

Of patent leather, held her shapely feet.

126

The ladies were so lovely it were hard

To say which of the two was more superb.

Nor flaw nor blemish their complexion marred

Nor vanity nor anger did disturb

127

Their fair composure and placidity.

Their lips were roses, satin was their skin.

Their eyes shone with benign lucidity.

They were to heaven’s goddesses akin.

128

They talked about the space facility

That Ajinblambia had overseen

And installations of utility

That had been built behither and between,

129

Like the vast mills for steel and for cement,

The power plant that generated volts.

The units that coked coal and alloys blent,

The factories for fittings, parts and bolts.

130

Then after this report, their topic changed.

First they did compliment each other’s gown

And then their conversation subtly ranged

To figures, hair and soft complexions brown.

131

The taller lady’s fingers gaily played

Among the flounces, furbelows and lace

Of royal Udi’s dress, and then they strayed

Along her neckline as if there to trace

132

A semicircle just above her bust,

Her dagger nails tickling Udi’s breasts.

This forwardness left me somewhat nonplussed,

And Ajinblambia’s aplomb attests,

133

For it was unlike Udi to allow

Romantic episodes and rendezvous

Inside her office. Her rules were changing now,

Apparently, for she did not refuse

134

The Vrikshaya’s advances and bold moves

Exceeding sisterly affection, it would seem,

The camaraderie that it behooves

Meek ladies quite appropriate to deem.

135

Then Ajinblambia with nails like swords

Unbuttoned the first button on the dress.

Queen Udi blushed and looked her ankles towards

As if disguising her embarrassed stress.

136

But I perceived a playful smile suppressed.

The lady King descried it too methought,

For she the second button gently pressed

So it popped from the loop wherein ’twas caught.

137

Behind it, Udi’s saffron silk brassiere

Shone with a satin sheen, both round and full.

Her bosom, lovely, generous and dear,

Erotically upon the straps did pull.

138

Then one by one the buttons came undone,

Till Udi’s dress was open all the way.

What might I do, a helplessly bound nun,

To curb this courtship and romantic play?

139

Queen Udi rose six inches from her seat,

While Ajinblambia did off her gown.

She slipped off her right sleeve, and did repeat

By slipping off her left. The dress came down

140

And lay in folds upon the mauve chaise longue.

Then Ajinblambia the cords untied

That did to her net crinolines belong,

These and her petticoats she tossed aside.

141

Clad but in saffron panties and brassiere,

With gartered stockings pale tangerine,

Sat Udi list’ning to what words she’d hear.

Oh, what a gorgeous body had the Queen!

142

They’d drunk a good amount of sparkling wine.

The ladies were both tipsy and aroused.

They kissed and hugged and fondled. ’Twas divine

To see them passionate as they caroused.

143

At last, the bra came off. The nipples stood

Erect as ruddy fingers, and the lips

Of Ajinblambia were not withstood.

Her hand began to grope the royal hips.

144

That rounded tummy, that erotic slit,

Now had another owner. I, deforced

From my estate, in bonds and mask did sit,

While Ajinblambia had us divorced

145

Forever and forever. She had won.

She had the mighty swords and gunnery,

And I would ever be a silly nun,

Enclosed inanely in a nunnery,

146

To practise modesty, timidity,

Docility and chastity, the four

Defdefan virtues, with lucidity

Enunciated by the nuns of yore.

147

The smell of oestrus filled the sultry air.

My eyes peeped through the eyelets in my mask.

The full and shapely breasts, beyond compare,

Did beg for kisses and for lips did ask.

148

I was enjoying the romance far more

Than if I’d in the King’s position been.

She was a lover I could well adore,

As if I were ensconced within her skin.

149

For I was feeble, feckless and effete

In matters amatory and romance.

Her glamour and her glory I might greet,

And, like her cheerleader, now prance and dance,

150

In my imagination, as it were,

For I was wrung and strung, and bound and wound.

I could but sniffle tinily or purr

A kitten’s purr. My heart did barely pound.

151

Queen Udi had grown drowsy drinking wine,

But Ajinblambia was still alert,

“Let me take thee to bed, O darling mine!”

“Oh, very well,” said she as if to flirt.

152

So Ajinblambia hugged Udi tight

With her left arm, while underneath her knees

She lifted her so gently with her right,

As if she’d been a feather in the breeze,

153

Then to the royal bedchamber, celeste

And violet and white, bore her away,

Aroused and ready for to be undressed,

And naked, to be laid and loved till day.

154

They had forgotten me, nor could I cry

Or elsewise token that I was in straits

Wherefrom delivery I couldn’t try.

’Twas the most agonizing of all states.

155

I hardly slept at all for all my pain,

For usually the nuns are bound two hours.

I wiggled and I wriggled quite in vain,

But moving just an inch surpassed my powers.

156

The royal office had been brightly lit,

But as the ladies left, a dimmer switch

That sensed no movement, softened bit by bit

The lamp that stood in the rocóco niche

157

Upon my right, carved in floridity.

It did become me that I knelt nearby,

For in my statuesque rigidity,

I fitly with an ornament did vie.

158

At last, however, I saw shades of blue

That tinctured all the vastnesses of heaven,

At first just faintly, and then morning flew

Before the Sun. I’d say ’twas nearly seven.

159

I heard some strains of laughter from beyond

The door to Udi’s bedchamber, and then,

All of a sudden, when peignóirs they’d donned,

The ladies in the room appeared again.

160

“Oh, look!” said Udi, “We forgot our nun.

Our Sister Rogizlenia’s still bound.

We must undo her bindings one by one,

The scarves and biliments wherein she’s wound,

161

Lest she expire from agony and grief.

How can we expiate our sore neglect,

For she is not a felon or a thief,

But rather one we owe it to protect?”

162

At once the ladies did unlace my mask,

Then loosened five crepe scarves that held my wrists

And ankles. Udi mournfully did ask

That I allow her to spray me with mists

163

That would dissolve and soften by degrees

The cud of putty that my mouth enclosed.

At last I rose till I stood on my knees

And sought to make myself somewhat composed.

164

In sev’ral minutes, I had gotten up,

And stood with aches and pains, and sores and sprains,

Unto my lips I raised a flowing cup

And sought to wake awareness in my brains.

165

I must have set a record to be tied

Ten hours in all the scarves of silken crepe.

Some minor bruises and some cramps inside

Were consequences I could not escape,

166

But, all in all, I did extremely well

In this ordeal fortuitously dealt

By fortune or misfortune, for so fell

A torment I before had never felt.

167

The ladies, locking tight the office door

Lest I run out and seek to take to flight,

Retired to Udi’s bedchamber once more

To dress more fully than they’d done at night,

168

By doffing those chemises and peignóirs

So sheer and titillating, gay and chic,

And donning dresses in the Queen’s boudóirs

That did their weighty business forebespeak.

169

That business would be to exile myself

Unto the distant convent in the west.

They two were willing to disburse the pelf

That it would cost our rivalry to rest,

170

The rivalry the Vrikshaya and I

Had long kept strenuous, intense and bold,

Both hungry for the apple of our eye,

The Queen of Ung and her domain of gold.

171

But we were two and Udi was but one.

So Ajinblambia was victress over me.

She’d be the King and I would be a nun,

A century confined and never free.

172

Whenas the ladies were all kempt and clad,

They came into the office once again.

Betwixt themselves a covenant they had,

Apparently, on what thing they’d do then.

173

They sat on chairs each other that did face,

And talked a while. I listed still and mute.

Their syllables and sentences did trace

An argument that I could not refute.

174

Queen Udi said, “Let’s telephone the nun

Who's ruled Defdefa Convent many years,

An abbess to whom equal there is none,

A lady who is destitute of peers.

175

She’s Sister Olezconia by name,

But let me caution that she may be loth

To welcome Rogizlenia, the same

Who caused her scandal and annoyance both,

176

When it came out that she was just a man,

A sissy in a habit and a veil.

The abbess may resent our latest plan

To put inside her nunnery a male.

177

It’s true that Vocno compensated her

For all the trouble he had brought about.

His money she received without demur,

When, having gone to Trípolis to scout

178

Around to find Tandóling, he did earn

A rich reward from high authority.

With penitence his noble heart did burn,

So he endowed his old sorority.”

179

The Vrikshaya did meditate a while,

But finally she said, “Do I command?

Am I the King of Ung, or is it guile

That you have placed the scepter in my hand?”

180

“Of course you rule,” the Queen was quick to add,

“However, old Defdefa Convent long

A measure of autonomy has had,

Enjoyed an independence proud and strong.

181

You surely should not now annihilate

A centuried tradition of our realm,

Longstanding understandings violate,

And steer the royal ship with a false helm.”

182

The goddess Ajinblambia agreed,

“You’re right. Diplomacy instead to use

’Twere better. Let us with the abbess plead

Our cause with equity she can’t refuse.

183

A lavish gift enabling her to plan

An annex to the convent we will give.

We will apologize for that a man

We ask of her there to permit to live

184

As if he were a nun a hundred years,

For him to pray and sing and serve and work

Like any other sister. If she fears

A scandal or a sin therein does lurk,

185

We will allow her any step to take,

Or measure to resort to, if need be,

Because her reputation is at stake,

And us as friends we would desire she see.”

186

Two scroll phones Udi took her desk from out,

And pressing on each phone a special key,

Caused to project and then revolve about

A screen that seemed to be two feet by three.

187

She handed one unto our gorgeous King.

The other she herself in hand then took.

“O Olezconia, a special thing

We would discuss with you, if you will look

188

Into your video device perchance,”

Said Udi, as if talking to a ghost

That quite invisibly did prance and dance

In middle air. A minute, at the most,

189

Elapsed before the abbess could be seen,

With cheeks of ivory and lips of rose,

Appearing televised on either screen,

“Your wish is my command, as Heaven knows,”

190

Replied the abbess deferentially,

For she knew that Queen Udi, ever kind,

Was wont to treat her preferentially,

According to the leanings of her mind.

191

“Dear Sister Olezconia, the King,

This Ajinblambia you now behold,

Craves your indulgence on a weighty thing

We must needs deal with, if the truth be told.

192

Do you recall the nunlet you once kept

Within your nunnery who fled by night?

Her name was Rogizlenia. We’ve wept

Such tears for all the sorrow and the fright

193

She did occasion. We apologize,

But ask that you receive her once again.

Don’t hasten vainly to homologize

This new confinement to the one of then.

194

Assurances we make ’twill be discreet.

Nor scandal nor disruptions will ensue.

We hope that you will find all this quite meet.

The King is willing to reward your due.

195

A lavish bounty will befortune you,

Enabling you the convent to enlarge.

There’ll be sums for appurtenances too,

If you will take this novice in your charge.”

196

The abbess did reply, “That’s very kind,

Both saintly gracious and magnanimous.

For my part, to assist you I’m inclined.

Unto this novice I’ve no animus.

197

There are some problems we should first review.

I hope you do my meaning apperceive.”

Queen Udi answered, “Yes, there’s nothing new,

I’d be remiss attempting to deceive.

198

We do invite you now to be our guest

Within our oval domes a day or so.

Please fly Air Fwascren hither from the west,

Our Thrulxmarj down to Jezgroid we’ll have go,

199

To fetch you in a palace limousine

When in the capital you do arrive.

Just say you are the one to meet the Queen.

To Eldor Palace you and he will drive.”

200

They then their screens into their phones withdrew,

Concluding they had handily devised

The prompt transition that they looked unto,

So suddenly by our new King advised.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilson/8763890/

Silver and Roses, Henna and Myrrh

Sun and Moon, Heaven and Earth