Books of Sand v1

Excerpts from the Books of Sand

Among the literary works of the Khajiit, the oldest of any certainty date from the early Empire, shortly after Tiber Septim's conquest. There are many extant works that claim to be of Khajiti origins, most of them translations, but none that most scholars agree are genuine. For instance, I recently translated a book on the Hall of Colossus, but after publishing, I received numerous letters arguing about it being a forgery.

What most agree with is that Khajiti and Imperial scribes were hired to collect the works and sayings of their race in order for the Emperor to better understand the Khajiit. This project was ultimately a failure, but it preserved much Khajiti literature that would otherwise have been lost.

These scholars divided their work into the Books of Sand, Sugar, Meat, Rain, and Dust. The Books of Sand focus mainly on poetry, mostly of a personal nature, and nursery rhymes. The Books of Sugar are of erotic poetry and tales. The Books of Meat include maxims, parables, and children's fables. The Books of Rain are pseudo-historical or pseudo-religious in nature, but include long digressions on cooking recipes, smithing techniques, battle strategy, and other practical subjects. The Books of Dust are mystical, philosophical, and inscrutable, even to the Khajiit themselves.

Since that time more books have been added to each series, such that you can tell the relative age of Khajiti literature by the number of the book. Generally the first and second of each series predate the Third Era, while later books are of more recent origin.

There is little interest outside Elsweyr for Khajiti literature, but there is a small market for poetry from all eras and races. I would like to thank Black Moon Publishing of Rihad for the small advance that allowed me to translate some of the most accessible sections. I would also like to thank Dro'Sharr, Fahra of Orcrest, Clan-Mother Manibi, and Ri'Haniir for their patience and assistance in understanding certain passages.

A Note on the Translation

Khajiti poetry of the late Second Era and early Third Era tends to have little meter or structure, but many internal rhymes, assonance, and alliteration. Children's rhymes are more similar in structure to the poetry of the Empire. In a few of these translations, I endeavored to retain some of the character of the original, but Cyrodiilic's more advanced phonology makes the feel of the poetry difficult to replicate. Another consideration was that a more accurate rendition might sound dull and repetitive to a broader audience.

As Ta'agra lacks direct equivalents to the familiar Imperial pronouns and makes it difficult to refer to certain things except by name, I have used what I feel is the closest of 'one's', 'Khajiit', 'the', 'this', 'my', 'your', etc. in place of the original wording, even though this is never a perfect translation.

The original poems are untitled -- indeed, it is sometimes difficult to tell where one begins or ends -- so I have created titles myself.

Your Humble Translator,

Cassolar Draebo

The Princes (First Book of Sand)

When the restless years come

pawing at your vest

and the flood weather strums the fur and the skin

and the blood pleasure stretches the claw-tips

and the thrills of your naked pains are made grand

and the sacred self spills forth

like grains of sand.

When the battle drums beat

as you come leaping into the fray

and chance grants you great gains

and the feet that prance are clay

and your teeth tear the sweetest meat

and the warband reaps one's foes

like grains of sand.

When the prey flees

whether beast or beauty

and so begins the chase that ends in feast

whether it plays tease or cries 'please'

and both victory and defeat are demise

whether your hands seize the prize or are led astray

the tears will rain

like grains of sand.

When one's claws are caught

in knots of thread

and every twine leads to dread

and every threat is dearly-bought

and stopped in one's construct

and the ears flop down

and the fur of your crown is plucked

like grains of sand.

When the tides recede

revealing long-lost days

and you accede the cost

and one gaze divides your stealing ways

and the rind of the eyes wanes

and the strands of your mind are tossed

like grains of sand.

When the hunting-time comes

between the day and the night

and the queen of the stormfront commands 'climb'

and the cat-shaper scrapes your ears

and soothes youth's roaming fears

and your husks come home to dusk's domain

like grains of sand.

The Dunes (Second Book of Sand)

Before a skull-pile

Climb with vile or guile

Grow into Do

Behind a book-tower

Climb and scour

Glow into Jo

Left a safe-hill of leisure

Waddle with measure

Slow into Dro

Right a candy mountain

Dig in, dig in

Fall into Ja

Which way, which way, Khajiit?

Every dune tastes so sweet

Where to begin, where to begin?

Close your eyes and spin

The Seasons (Second Book of Sand)

Rain, rain, Jo'Jo showers

Sprout, sprout, shadow flowers

Spring, spring, Senche sun

Bite, bite, battle's done

Oops! Missed the invisible ones!

Little Alfiq licky charms

Tall Ohmes open arms

Climb, climb, ladder-moon

Crush, crush, forehead rune

Dance, dance, daedra joke

Crave, crave, comfy stroke

Oops! Missed the sneaky ones!

Snatcher sneaking dagger-down

Mandrake dons the ruby crown

The Wanderer (First Book of Sand)

When the dawn dreams of endings

When wicked deeds need his rending

Sliced in twenty-seven shards

Severed snake swishing swishing

Windy mercy whisks together

Windy glossa licks gore gone

Fresh fortunes leak sky-drawn

Swisher stretches, softly yawns

Dought and Rain (Third Book of Sand)

Stretch slothful, snarl sunlight

Dump dust-devils of dreaming orbs

Fight feet, gulp glass, bone bite

Shuffle slowly, drudge outdoors

Sacks of salt and sugar too small

Drudge, drudge at draking deeds

See sweat-slick craving call

Mouth mumbles tumble like weeds

Leap to lightning healing heart

Rub the rushing river (in your) ear

Claw-tap rain-tempo matching art*

Whistle chasing wind, whiskers cheer

Puddle-dipping fleeting footfall

Cloudward claw-tips never reach

See rain-slick craving call

Hush and hold, spirit speech

* Lit: to tap your toes to match the patter of rain