A most curious sight I saw quite recently,
a sea of clouds set all ablaze -
In its midst a flame absently
filling the air with a smoky haze.
Rippling across land, to the north
reaping novices in its wake -
A shattered clock the Hand brought forth
back into Time, the cities did fade.

Raging, rearing, gouts of flame
danced above the searing sand,
Shimmering waves of heat - it came,
soundlessly, across volcanic land.
In its wake, a draconic roar
shattered the quivering air!
Wakabi flit, upon their wings they bore,
filling the skies with a crimson flare.

Flowing down misty mountain paths,
roiling clouds from spires on high -
A fleeting glimpse of gleaming glass
trailing fog banks by-the-by.
Lightning wreathed its slender forms,
a sudden blur streaking through the clouds -
For weaving through the crackling storm,
a fluttering legion of pigeons proud!

I rallied; they poured forth from their perch;
the walls rang true with cooing sighs!
I gathered my thoughts and bade them search
all the land, for a crystal tree:
"Of crystal formed - of fire, alive -
throwing prismatic beams of light!
Of whispered breezes - and sparkling pools,
grown upon a bed of fluffy clouds!"

Yet when at last, my search did end
at the foot of the tree they did rest,
And I - to a "Tree" the flock did send -
above all, to a place they knew best.
Gathered to roost, the air sans sound -
ruffling feathers, they did proclaim:
For the crystal tree I sought, they found -
'Twas the spire from whence they came!