{"id":501,"date":"2025-12-01T16:45:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T22:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/?p=501"},"modified":"2025-12-01T16:45:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T22:45:25","slug":"decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/01\/decisions\/","title":{"rendered":"Decisions"},"content":{"rendered":"

A poem from my Dwarven Throne world. I hope you enjoy it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Decisions in the dawn before the sun can see
\nThat echo in the fabric of all reality.
\nBackwards now and forwards, weaving on through time
\nThough they have never given a reason or a rhyme.<\/p>\n

Decisions in the darkness where truth can whisper still
\nAnd the growing morning silence bolsters trembling will.
\nA hand held tight in fingers uncertain of their skill
\nA heart that cannot linger for good yet nor for ill.<\/p>\n

A duty now is calling, a vigil now laid down.
\nA future now is falling where falls yet the crown?<\/p>\n

Decisions in the dawning gird up sword and shield.
\nHearts answer still the calling and assemble in the field.
\nThe young and bold, they answer, and so the old and grim.
\nThe darkness lurks about them on a fatal poisoned whim.<\/p>\n

Decisions on the ramparts, where courage clings to day
\nAnd all hope for living is gently tucked away.
\nFor the battle now has fallen, the sword has left its sheath
\nThere is no recalling only fire, blood, and teeth.<\/p>\n

A duty now is calling, the battle now is joined
\nA future now is falling and another future coined.<\/p>\n

Decisions in the evening, as they raise the dead to mourn,
\nAnd the bitter price is measured by souls now battle worn.
\nAnother day is purchased, another chance to hope.
\nIn the grim light of the gloaming: the sky an iron cope.<\/p>\n

Decisions in the darkness, the secret king unknown,
\nWho feels each fallen soldier, and does not know his throne.
\nBut swears by all the powers, yet keeping him alive
\nWhen he comes into his kingdom he shall make it thrive.<\/p>\n

A duty now is calling: a crown of hope and blood.
\nA future comes, though crawling, and rises from the flood.<\/p>\n

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

A poem from my Dwarven Throne world. I hope you enjoy it. Decisions in the dawn before the sun can see That echo in the fabric of all reality. Backwards now and forwards, weaving on through time Though they have never given a reason or a rhyme. Decisions in the darkness where truth can whisper… Read More Decisions<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":502,"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":[28,27,26,29,22,12,15,11,17,25],"class_list":["post-501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","category-writing","tag-adventure","tag-chiaroscuro","tag-duty","tag-family","tag-grim","tag-hope","tag-oaths","tag-poetry","tag-story","tag-wonder"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Decisions.jpg?fit=600%2C600","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/parUcj-85","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":445,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/12\/edge-of-darkness\/","url_meta":{"origin":501,"position":0},"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":439,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/03\/the-mad-king\/","url_meta":{"origin":501,"position":1},"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":501,"position":2},"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":432,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/08\/04\/chains-of-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":501,"position":3},"title":"Chains of Light","author":"Heather","date":"August 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Because great troubles also contain great hope. Clash of magic and flash of steel Madness crowned by stubborn will Bright and shining hope confined A hero\u2019s heart and hero\u2019s duty now maligned. Deamon breath by ocean shore Chaining virtue as a power store. Shining silver against the chains Beauty and\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\/08\/Chains-of-Light.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Chains-of-Light.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Chains-of-Light.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2024\/08\/24\/a-tremble-of-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":501,"position":4},"title":"A Tremble of Light","author":"Heather","date":"August 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Somewhat later than I intended, but a little bit of light for your day. I hope you enjoy it. The candle light now trembles In the growing gloom. The hand that holds it wavers It shows so little of the room. Yet other voices whisper Both with hope and fear\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\/2024\/08\/A-Tremble-of-Light.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/A-Tremble-of-Light.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/A-Tremble-of-Light.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":533,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2026\/02\/20\/calling\/","url_meta":{"origin":501,"position":5},"title":"Calling","author":"Heather","date":"February 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Thinking through a scene in a story (way down the line) and this hit me. Struck me as something folk might find hopeful. Call the names lost in the night. Call the names back to the light. Call the names lost and alone. Call the names and bring them home.\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\/2026\/02\/Calling-Full.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Calling-Full.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Calling-Full.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=501"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":503,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501\/revisions\/503"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}