{"id":457,"date":"2025-10-13T12:52:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/?p=457"},"modified":"2025-10-13T12:52:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:52:36","slug":"guardians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/10\/13\/guardians\/","title":{"rendered":"Guardians"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the same world as the Siren\u2019s call poem. A bit more of a historical piece.<\/em><\/p>\n

In the woods a ring of stones
\nBlack as night, strong, alone.
\nA portal held against the foe
\nFrom other worlds and long ago.<\/p>\n

A clan there was of warriors strong
\nWho guard the gates through ages long
\nAnd kill the beasts that yet come through
\nAs ages past and worlds yet grew.<\/p>\n

Though war would call them from their task
\nAnd they bleed more than any man should ask.
\nStill to their duty they ever cleave
\nOn battlefield or under forest eaves.<\/p>\n

Though ancient foes hunt them down
\nAgain and again they nearly drowned
\nIn rivers of blood spilled from their kin
\nStill they rose to battle again.<\/p>\n

Calling warriors to share their pain
\nThe thrill of the hunt and the guardian name.
\nThey challenged the wicked, monstrous foe
\nAnd held it back as its power still grows.<\/p>\n

The stone of their will shall never yield
\nThey stand at the threshold: guardian and shield.
\nIf they should dwindle or should grow strong
\nThey cleave to their duty o\u2019re centuries long.<\/p>\n

Guardians<\/em> copyright \u00a9 Heather Strickler 2025 all rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the same world as the Siren\u2019s call poem. A bit more of a historical piece. In the woods a ring of stones Black as night, strong, alone. A portal held against the foe From other worlds and long ago. A clan there was of warriors strong Who guard the gates through ages long And… Read More Guardians<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[14,13],"tags":[26,12,20,11,17],"class_list":["post-457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","category-writing","tag-duty","tag-hope","tag-mood","tag-poetry","tag-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Guardian-Blackstone2.jpg?fit=600%2C600","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/parUcj-7n","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":439,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/03\/the-mad-king\/","url_meta":{"origin":457,"position":0},"title":"The Mad King","author":"Heather","date":"September 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Something one of my novel worlds poked to life. The crushing weight of duty Like irons weighing down The love of kin and country Pile lead upon the crown. While his heart seeks out an answer His mind is giving in. Not to pride or to hubris Nor to bright\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":516,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/19\/wardens-song\/","url_meta":{"origin":457,"position":1},"title":"Warden’s Song","author":"Heather","date":"December 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This is set to a jauntier tune in my head than perhaps it should be. In any event I hope you enjoy this little monster hunting song. The foe is waiting for us and we shall track him down Before he brings his terrors to another simple town. Ride we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Wardens-Song.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Wardens-Song.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Wardens-Song.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":445,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/12\/edge-of-darkness\/","url_meta":{"origin":457,"position":2},"title":"Edge of Darkness","author":"Heather","date":"September 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Days are dark but hope is never gone. A light in the darkness cannot be quenched. A star in the sky burns forever entrenched. Where there is light, the night holds no sway. And though darkness may come, to dawn it gives way. A candle held high can be snuffed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":507,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/08\/blade-of-dawn\/","url_meta":{"origin":457,"position":3},"title":"Blade of Dawn","author":"Heather","date":"December 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A little mythology from one of my worlds. I hope you enjoy. The first word spoken was a blade It cut the second and dawn was made In the rising light the truth unfurled Showing what became the world. A world of silence, no voice yet sang Where all creation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Blade-of-Dawn.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Blade-of-Dawn.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Blade-of-Dawn.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":491,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/11\/17\/hunters-defiance\/","url_meta":{"origin":457,"position":4},"title":"Hunter’s Defiance","author":"Heather","date":"November 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Not sure why he\u2019s riding a dragon (ask Midjourney) I may have to write that story, but I hope you enjoy the poem and the picture. 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