- Volume 15 -

A collection of verse

by Dahni

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Dedication

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Forward

by Arman Sicovia, editor for I-Magine Publications

   Welcome to an incredible journey into the world of fantasy. In this collection, Dahni blends poignant and often profound verse into a fairytale or story format. This amazing flight of the imagination provides us with wings as we fly into and through these make believe lands. Imagine every childhood character or story we have ever read or heard of, all coming together into one special place at the exact same moment in time! Creatures, characters and even deities from ancient Greece and the Roman Empire will you encounter here. Norse gods and goddesses will cross your path. There are fairies, elves, dwarfs, witches, wizards, warlocks. Hobits, creatures and personalities from Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings are met. Even Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men along with the Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur, Merlin, and Excalibur, are found within these pages.

   In this visionary and dream world, Dahni writes as if he were the sole bard and only witness to the events and times with which unfold. He writes with the language as was common in the middle ages. Poetic license is displayed throughout this work and words are often made up, but clearly defined. With a deep love of language and a fondness for fantasy, wrought early in the heart of child, Dahni approaches this work with great enthusiasm. He masters accents well and has been awarded for his portrayals of original characters in several Renaissance Fairs and other public gatherings. His writing here from the perspective of  the character, bard of  'City of the Clouds', is both a logical progression out of his experience and are completely believable.

   In years past, he was both a squire and bard to large online and popular role-playing communities. One was Virtual Places and another was actually called the realm of Camelot. Out of these experiences, the concept of 'City of the Clouds' began. A stream of thought led him to the simple and familiar phrase, what if?

"What if all my childhood stories and some I made up myself,

 could come together in one place?"

Dahni

   Back in 1998 when Dahni approached me with this idea, I was not sure how this would work. Upon receiving additional information about the project, the message became crystal clear.

   If you can IMAGINE, you not only will thoroughly enjoy 'City of the Clouds,' but you will feel the current with which it flows and arrive at a pristine waterfall of understanding. Embark upon this journey as a time traveler, able to mount up with wings and soar through the clouds of time and distance, into the past, or the present or the future. In science fiction we have come to refer to this phenomenon as the space time continuum. From many television programs such as 'Star Trek' in the United States and 'Dr. Who,' in England, we understand the concept of time travel. Motion pictures as 'Highlander, 'Star Wars,' 'Back to the Future,' and 'Superman,' have shown the ability to manipulate time. In one of the 'Superman' movies, the superhero flew so fast around the globe that he made time move backwards, to save the life of Lois Lane. But of course I must not fail to mention the great classic by Jules Verne, 'The Time Machine.' There are so many more great works that could mention, but time does not afford me this opportunity.

   Officers and crew of the 'Starship Enterprise' (Star Trek series), were strictly prohibited from interfering in the affairs of other life forms they encountered. This same principle of non-interference was common to all time travelers from 'Back to the Future, 'Dr. Who,' and the Sci-Fi program, 'Star Gate.' Changing the past is considered to be dangerous to the space time continuum. Rips, tears or flux in time could possibly alter  the futures of the entire universe and beyond. 'City of the Clouds' begins with the existence of such a rip, tear or flux in time. This opening could and would allow alternate universes, individual entities and creatures, the ability to travel through the various layers of time: past, present and future.

   What if this opening or portal through time drew every known age, deity, realm and creature to one place, all at the same time? This is precisely what has occurred in 'City of the Clouds.' Every person, place or thing you have ever heard of, read about, or can imagine are all gathered at one place, within the 'City of the Clouds.'

   Role playing games (RPG), became popular in our generation with 'Dungeons & Dragons.' This game remains popular, but it has also given rise to numerous updates over the years, not to mention the countless offshoots of other such forms of fantasy. 'City of the Clouds' is like a role playing game in that the reader becomes a participant. As an RPG, gamers have an ultimate goal to win the game. They are given rules by the game master and  must play by those rules. Players all have individual strengths and weaknesses, powers, and forces. Players acquire  extra powers, weapons, other provisions and even lives from successfully solving problems and overcoming them. We are rewarded as participants in 'City of the Clouds' as well.

   Imagination is not merely for children or for play. Every idea which has ever turned into some reality of the past, in our present and in the future, began with the fires of imagination. 'City of the Clouds' though entertaining as is the game of chess, both are based on logic, cause and effect, rules and order. There are results and consequences. There is a point, a conclusion, and a surprise ending to 'City of the Clouds.

   The poems here are full of passion, romance, mystery, fear, greed, love, hate and in fact, nearly every human emotion. Interestingly, the gods of old were often found to manifest many of these human characteristics. Ancient gods and goddesses were known for their hunger for power, greed and jealousy, wrath and nearly every other base emotion known to man. Dahni clearly makes the point that a god or goddess of both superior power and intellect would by sheer logic, possess emotional supremacy as well. Were these legends of old created by man to magnify human frailty by creating the gods or were they truly believed? Dahni however, does show within this collection, lessons of life by making issues (gods), bigger than life itself.

   This is a brilliant piece of work. It is full of meaning and symbolism,  yet it may be enjoyed by almost anyone. Come journey here. Make claim of your own to, 'City of The Clouds.'

 Arman Sicovia

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