Fire in Four Quarters by sallysavestheday

South (hyarmen): Slaves

The Men of Umbar haul

in others’ traces.

Named lesser and

lower,

passed from

fist to fist,

from one armed lord

to another, like working

beasts:

so many hands,

so many backs,

so many ships.

To raise a proud head

risks losing it;

to speak in their own

language

ends with tongues clipped.

But -- even from the

droning depths

of misery --

all hearts yearn.

Is it truly

any wonder

that,

whispering on their

secret altars,

dark flames burn?