The Sweetest of All

Introduction: Therrilliar wrote this tragic tale of love and loss after hearing about a husband whose dying wife said to him "It was mostly sweet, and you were the sweetest of all" (Author Frank Herbert of "Dune" fame). Since the death of her own fiance, she has come to personalize and internalize this song.

The line was the most poignant expression of love that Therrilliar had ever heard before or since and it cried out to be made into a song.

Therrilliar sang this song as her entry in the Third Bardic Tourney, but alas, it did not place in the top 10.


Was it really so long past
when we held each other thrall?
our breaths came hot and fast
in that cave behind the fall

Where the water's curtain clear
marked the entrance to our nest
there we'd hold each other near
and there we'd leave behind the rest

I remember looking out
upon the valley and the road
made wavy by that spout
distorting all the lands below

And thinking 'pon the years
that we had before us yet
to my eyes brought joyous tears
for our sun would never set

`Til the rest became a dream
just our cavern and our love
was all the world did seem
as we embraced so far above

I remember passion's throes
as if they'd happened yesterday
upon a bed of clothes
would our lovers' dancing sway

Was it really so long nigh?
for the world again does weave
through the tears that I now cry
for my lost love that I do grieve

Has it been so long since we
stole to our secret place?
Been so long since he
drew tender kisses 'pon my face?

For he died upon the field
his blood did stain the ruddy sand
his sword and cloven shield
lay on some foreign land

His soft flesh now hardened bone
where did once my fingers leap
he lies silent and alone
and he sleeps eternal sleep

I recall that dreadful day
when word was brought to me
that my love had gone away
ne'er to return across the sea

And my sadness knew no bound
I felt my life was fully spent
as I tumbled to the ground
and my flesh with fingers rent

But my trembling hands did stay
and my grief it did subside
for though his flesh had gone away
his love, it never died

For I was told his dying breath
and it sustains me even hence
while in the final throes of death
of his love, this evidence

For as Truffenyi he did meet
came to me his dying call.....

"It was mostly sweet
and you were the sweetest of all"

 

Script [may be used by any bard as long as Therrilliar is credited - Note: The line "It was mostly sweet, and you were sweetest of all" was said to Dune author Frank Herbert by his dying wife. I thought it the most poignant expression of long-term love I've ever heard or seen]

#Song-The Sweetest of All

put say Here is a song of loss and of gain, by Therrilliar d'Onlor

pause 5

put sing Was it really so long past;when we held each other thrall?;our breaths came hot and fast;in that cave behind the fall

pause 12

put sing Where the water's curtain clear;marked the entrance to our nest;there we'd hold each other near;and there we'd leave behind the rest

pause 12

put sing I remember looking out;upon the valley and the road;made wavy by that spout;distorting all the lands below

pause 12

put sing And thinking 'pon the years;that we had before us yet;to my eyes brought joyous tears;for our sun would never set

pause 12

put sing `Til the rest became a dream;just our cavern and our love;was all the world did seem;as we embraced so far above

pause 12

put sing I remember passion's throes;as if they'd happened yesterday;upon a bed of clothes;would our lovers' dancing sway

pause 12

put sing Was it really so long nigh?;for the world again does weave;through the tears that I now cry;for my lost love that I do grieve

pause 12

put sing Has it been so long since we;stole to our secret place?;Been so long since he;drew tender kisses 'pon my face?

pause 12

put sing For he died upon the field;his blood did stain the ruddy sand;his sword and cloven shield;lay on some foreign land

pause 12

put sing His soft flesh now hardened bone;where did once my fingers leap;he lies silent and alone;and he sleeps eternal sleep

pause 12

put sing I recall that dreadful day;when word was brought to me;that my love had gone away;ne'er to return across the sea

pause 12

put sing And my sadness knew no bound;I felt my life was fully spent;as I tumbled to the ground;and my flesh with fingers rent

pause 12

put sing But my trembling hands did stay;and my grief it did subside;for though his flesh had gone away;his love, it never died

pause 12

put sing For I was told his dying breath;and it sustains me even hence;while in the final throes of death;of his love, this evidence

pause 12

put sing For as Truffenyi he did meet;came to me his dying call.....

pause 6

put sing "It was mostly sweet;and you were the sweetest of all"

 

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