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Language:
English
Series:
Part 1 of Cricket May or May Not Regret Writing Poetry
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Published:
2022-02-05
Completed:
2022-05-15
Words:
1,034
Chapters:
2/2
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43
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For Someone Lost Far Away

Summary:

So...
I was reading someone else's fic (How a Romance Novel Saved the Galaxy) and the idea of Canderous writing poetry about Revan was briefly mentioned. The image of Canderous, sitting in his compound on Dxun, with a datapad and probably some kind of alcohol, writing POETRY has resided in my brain since then.
And here we are.
This isn't really my idea; I just wrote it.
What have I done.

Edit: it has been two years, but I finally managed to think of a better title than ‘That Damn Poetry.’ Better late than never, I suppose.

Notes:

Just to be clear, this is not happy poetry. Revan is probably in some state of being a captive of the Sith Empire at the time this is written, and I would say that Canderous has started to wonder if they're even still alive.
I didn't translate this into the Mandalorian language word for word, I tried to translate the actual meaning, even if that means which lines have question marks doesn't always match up.
I kind of based the structure on the version of the 'Dha Werda Verda' (a Mandalorian epic poem) that originated from around/a bit before the time of Mand'alor the Ultimate, so it's the version Canderous would have grown up with. I looked at that poem for how they phrase things in the actual Mando'a, and used the same five line verse structure. I also just phrased things the way they are because it sounded good.
Because of the time period, I used every single relevant archaic form in existence.
A few more notes:
Every time I use the word 'stars,' except for the time it's 'distant stars,' I mean the Force. That particular archaic form of the term has a sort of divine aspect to it, and is used as the Mando word for the Force elsewhere in the fandom.
'Mandokar' is the epitome of Mandalorian virtue, 'a blend of aggression, tenacity, loyalty, and a lust for life.'
And 'nar'taab,' step or footstep, is a word I made up by combining the word for action and the word for foot.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

The 'Revan Was a Badass' One:

 

Gar verd jatne ni kar’tayli.

Naasade moti gar kalse.

Tracyn gaanayli ti gaane,

Nari ka’ra sha gar ke'gyce.

Ijaat shekemi akaane an.

 

You are the greatest warrior I have ever known.

None can stand against your blades.

You stop fire with your hands,

Bending the very stars to your will.

Every battle we fight brings honor.

 

Gar hetti ratiin ti mandokar. 

Kandosii’la ures beskar’gam.

Buurenaar mav a’den teh gaan.

Narise kade marekar de ka’ra.

Aru’ese ne’lise gar nynir.

 

You always burn brightly with mandokar.

Incredible even without armor.

An unleashed storm of rage flies from your hand. 

The stars guide your steps, your blades.

Enemies cannot touch you.

 

Draar chaaba, jurkadir shal kyrbej ka’rta,

Kalse mesh’la ori’kyramla.

Dral kotir akaan’ade an,

Meh gaanad naastar rang oyu’baat,

A gar mircir ulyc a’den.

 

You leap into the fray, never hesitating,

Blades promising death.

Your strength can conquer any army,

Burn the galaxy to ashes, if you choose.

But you are careful what you let your rage touch.

 

 

The Sad One:

 

Tion vaii jii kemir?

Verd, vod, cyare, ka’ra’ad.

Tion’akaane solus akaanir?

Gar kandosii’la solus verd.

Meg ne’luubid bah cuyani akaan.

 

Where do you wander now, 

Warrior, sister, cyare, daughter of the stars?

What battles do you fight alone?

You are an individual indomitable warrior.

That is not enough to fight a war. 

 

Ne Mando’ad, jorcu gar urmankalar nu’ret’yc.

Striili dha werda ka’rta, nar’taab val oya’kar, 

Liser shuka r’haa’tayli werda an.

A vi kar’tayl oyu’baat cuy ashi werda.

Shi kalse ka’ra ara’nov ne’beskar’gam.

 

You are not one of my people, because you do not accept that it is possible.

The shadows hound your steps, as you follow them back to their heart.

You can conquer any shadow I have ever seen.

But we both know there are more shadows in the galaxy.

You have no armor, nothing but your blades and the stars to keep you safe.

 

Ja’hailir echoy’la lo tra, ni mird,

Tion ru’jorir eyayahse naysol?

Tion ru’copaanir ramaanar?

Ash’amur gebi uvate chaaj’yc.

Tion gar kar’taylir ne’yaimpar?

 

As I watch the void you’re lost in, I wonder, 

Were the echos too much to bear?

Did you want to die out there,

Go down fighting among distant stars?

Did you know you weren’t coming back?

Notes:

When you think about it, both poems are sad because Canderous wrote the first one because he wanted to remember/immortalize how much of a badass Revan was, and remembering them is literally how Mandalorians honor their dead friends.
Also, if you ask me, Revan 100% knew they weren't coming back, and Canderous probably did too, subconsciously at least.