he Real Meaning of the Poem
by brother of Battles: 2004-11-24 | 5 out of 10 (3 votes)
Illuminati wrote a theory about the poem at the end of book 10. It really was a nice theory. Very well thought out and researched. However, I would be more inclined to think that the poem leans more towards the Aiel then the Seanchan. The whole thing sounds like it screams Aiel.
“We rode on the winds of the rising storm,
We ran to the sounds of Thunder.
We danced among the lightning bolts,
And tore the world asunder.”
Here is what I think about the poem:
"We rode on the winds of the rising storm."
The winds of the rising storm could be the approach of TG. TG would definitely be a storm. The Aiel a sweeping across Randland like a flood. No army they met has ever been able to contain them. They ride the winds of the Dragon Reborn; they ride the winds of battle. For the Aiel, battle and war are a way of life. It has been that way for countless years now. Ever since Rand has become the Car'a'carn, the Aiel have been in one battle after another. However, things are still getting worse. There seems to be less trust between all countries, dissention among soldiers, secrets being stacked on secrets. The winds of a storm are definitely rising.
"We Ran to the sounds of Thunder."
That line sounds fairly easy to deduce. However, there could be two explanations. And we all know RJ likes to keep us guess. Especially when we think we are right about something only to learn we were way off. Here is the first guess on what it could mean: That could mean that the "thunder" is the sound of battle. From a distance, distinct sound is mixed with all other sound so it jumbles together as one load noise. There is the "thunder." Here is the second one: The "thunder" could be just that. Whenever AS call lightning down, there has to be thunder. So, if groups of people who can channel were in battle, lightning would be getting thrown around like crazy. The Aiel, the people of the Dragon, run where Rand points. This portion right here might tie in with Illuminati's theory. AS tend to use lightning when in battle more then the Asha'men. If the Sanchan attack the WT, then lightning would be thrown around like mud. Rand might find out about the fighting then send in not only his Asha'men, but also the Aiel. The Asha'men would take care of the dammane, while the Aiel make mitsmeat out of the so-called “Ever Victorious Army.” This is the option I tend to lead to.
"We danced among the lightning bolts."
The Aiel are the only people that use the phrase "Dance" as a reference to battle. And this poem is definitely referring to battle. The Aielman Perrin, Mat, Ingtar, Verrin and company meet in “The Great Hunt”, when the Aiel are searching for He Who Comes With The Dawn, says to Verrin “bring your lightning bolts, I will dance among them.” I think this line is the most obvious line of the poem.
"And tore the world asunder."
The Aiel is spread out all over Randland. From the Arenth ocean all the way to the Spine of the World. And Beyond. If the Aiel were given free reign to devastate any army, opposition, faction, whatever; they would do so with extreme prejudice. Look at what they have done so far. In the Aiel war, they burned and pillaged all the way to the very walls of TV. When Rand brought them out of the waste they did the same thing. Granted, they did it only on a smaller scale. By tearing the world “asunder”, it is in fact bringing them together. No person has ever controlled all the lands since Hawkwing. But what is Rand doing right now? He is only a small step behind that what Hawkwing did.
This whole poem is in reference is a big battle approaching. I would guess the battle to be TG. There will be no place to hide when this battle strikes. The Aiel are among the armies that will be a deciding factor. The Sanchan make reference after reference about the "Ever victorious army" but they have been beaten. Rand and the Heroes of the Horn beat them at Falme. When has the Aiel ever been defeated when against anyone other then other Aiel? The answer is never. Not even in the Aiel War were they beat. They did what they came to do, then went home and no army put in front of them could stand in their way. It is in my opinion that the Aiel are the subject of this poem. However good the Sanchan are, if they didn't use the “leashed ones”, they would plainly get the butts whopped. The Aiel, with the exception of Dumani's Wells, have never used the one power in battle.
Well there it is. I don't mean to take anything away from Illuminati's theory, for it was a good one. I just thought the Aiel are explained better then the Seanchan are. So, tell me what you think.
You cannot rate theories without first logging in. Please
log in.
1
Tamyrlin: 2005-02-05
The poem works for both, however, the "dance" portion does suggest a strong connection between the Aiel and the poem. The most important part of the poem seems to be "tore the world asunder"...I don't think this has happened yet. And it would be interesting if the Aiel were the deciding factor against the Seanchan.
2
Satin alEllien Moonsong: 2005-02-06
(applauds)
woohoo! you have put into words something that has been rattling about in the halls of my mind, thank you!
3
a dragonburned fool: 2005-02-07
For me this poem is speaking most closely about asha'man. When asha'man are recruited, the recruiters allude them with the promises to "wield the lightnings and ride the thunder", that looks exactly like the poetical figures of the poem. (a quote here would be Tarna's stor about the recruiting party she saw: "I did not know what they were then, of course, but they were openly recruiting men to follow the Dragon Reborn, and it seemed wisest to listen before I spoke. Well for me that I did. There were six of them, Pevara, six men in black coats. Two with silver swords on their collars were feeling men out about whether they might like to learn to channel. Oh, they did not say so right out. Wield the lightnings, they called it. Wield the lightnings and ride the thunder. But it was clear enough to me, if not to the fools they were talking to.")
Also in CoT there is no speaking about Aiel. But thre are some interesting processes beginning among asha'man in this book.
4
SugarBullet: 2005-02-07
I'm unconvinced. Well thought out and all argued, I just think the poem is too ambiguous. The real backbone of your argument is the "danced among the lightening bolts" line. The quote directed at Verin is very persuasive, but the phrase "danced among the lightning bolts" is hardly so strikingly original a thought that it could be used as some sort of "poetic fingerprint". Again, good job, I just think it's still inconclusive.
5
Flinnd: 2005-02-07
The potential of this meaning the Asha'man was presented. What if both the original premise and the Asha'man potential are correct?
Here's what I mean... we have not seen any Aiel Asha'man. I find it hard to believe that, given the immense size of the Aiel nation that no men exist that can channel. Now that the taint has been cleansed, and with the knowledge of the need for channelers in the Aiel's army (especially now that Wise Ones are channeling freely), some Aiel men may be wanting to learn to channel. Imagine the effectiveness of battle-tested Aiel with the ability to wield the one power. Could Rand have set in motion the training of Aiel male channelers? Perhaps the Aiel have already made their own preparations for this. We still don't know exactly what the red head-band that some of the Aiel wear means. Could the head-band be worn by Aiel men that have the ability to channel?
That's just some of the thoughts that came to mind reading through this theory.
6
bigjellybeans: 2005-02-09
Flinn I very much doubt that the poem connects male channelers and tthe aiel. But you do bring up a very interesting point: why isnt there any mention of other male aiel channelers. And for that matter what about seanchean males and athan miere. This is an interesting subject that needs further discussion. So I would like to see a theory of that come up soon.
7
Anubis: 2005-02-09
Aeil Male Channelers go to the blight to kill trollocs untill they die. Seanchan Male Channelers are hunted down and killed on sight, and Sea Folk Male Channelers... your guess is as good as mine.
8
Anubis: 2005-02-09
***If the Aiel were given free reign to devastate any army, opposition, faction, whatever; they would do so with extreme prejudice. Look at what they have done so far. In the Aiel war, they burned and pillaged all the way to the very walls of TV.***
Yes, the aiel killed burned and pillaged. But only took 1/5 and they stopped the very day they took Lamans head. Hardly sounds like an army that would go berzerk and start massacring nations to me.
9
Dannil Lewin: 2005-02-10
There is mention of male channelers among the Aiel and Seanchan. The Seanchan hunt them down and kill them while the Aielmen set off into the Blight believing they have been called to attack Sightblinder themselves...so both cultures have a way of dealing with male channelers already in place and it is highly unlikely that the Seanchan will learn very soon that the male source is now pure.
10
bigjellybeans: 2005-02-10
When I say what has happened to the male channelers of the given culture, I am asking what has happened to them since the cleansing of saidin. Somebody must have sensed some kind of change. I want to know about them after the cleansing.
11
brother of Battles: 2005-02-10
***Yes, the aiel killed burned and pillaged. But only took 1/5 and they stopped the very day they took Lamans head. Hardly sounds like an army that would go berzerk and start massacring nations to me.***
Yes, they did do all that and yes, they only took the 1/5. But my meaning did not mean them going beserking and all that. What I was getting at is that even at the walls of TV, no one could best them in battle. They turned around and went home because they acomplished what they wanted to do, kill King Laman. They were never beaten. The only reason Rand hasn't used them more is because he doesn't want to abuse the pride of all the other nations. And if he sent the Aiel into more battles, that would mean more womens' deaths, and that is the last thing Rand wants.
But all of you may have a point about the Asha'men. They too have never been beaten in battle come to think about it. However, they still do not have the battle prowless that the Aiel have. The Asha'men are still fairly new, and the only reason people fear them, is because of what they can do. The Aiel are feared because of who they are. If you cut off an Asha'men, they are basically helpless. For an Aiel, you would need to disarm them, tie them up, and pray he or she doesn't have sharp teeth.
I also wanted to thank you all for your responses. This was the first theory I have ever done, and I am not at all disappointed with the replies it has recieved. Thank you all.
12
Aiel Finn: 2005-02-11
I don't know, if you cornered an Asha'man, especially if he's going a bit mad, I think that he would be quite an opponent. I think they are even taught to channel without gestures for most attacking weaves. Quite an opponent indeed, even if they don't have the battle tradition of the Aiel.
13
brother of Battles: 2005-08-22
Aiel Finn-
"I don't know, if you cornered an Asha'man, especially if he's going a bit mad, I think that he would be quite an opponent. I think they are even taught to channel without gestures for most attacking weaves. Quite an opponent indeed, even if they don't have the battle tradition of the Aiel."
You might be in for a rude surprise if you corner an Asha'man. But what good would he be if he is blocked off from the true source. Or if he has been severed or gentled? The Aiel have no fear of being hindered in any way. If you take away an Aiel's weapons, you still better be ready to fight because they are just as deadly with their hands and feet as they are with spear and buckler. Can the same thing be said about an Asha'man?
14
ReDragon: 2007-10-06
Brother of battles
For an Aiel, you would need to disarm them, tie them up, and pray he or she doesn't have sharp teeth.
ROFLOL
I can agree with the poem being written by an Aiel, but it must be written after TG, when the Aiel have been turned to the way of the leaf, if an Aiel wrote it. I can't remember them ever writing poetry they only sing battle chants, except for the Aiel that Perrin chops the hand off, which is an interesting question in itself. Hmmmmm. Its attributed to the DR, but as his blood is Aiel even if he wrote it, the theory is acceptable.
Very Well Done IMO.
15
Sidhe: 2007-10-08
Isn't it far simpler? Both the meaning of the poem as why it's in the book? Taken the following quote from Tamyrlin's reply to Tarna's Secret, the added stars are mine, the bit in between is what it's about:
"I did not know what they were then, of course, but they were openly recruiting men to follow the Dragon Reborn, and it seemed wisest to listen before I spoke. Well for me that I did. There were six of them, Pevara, six men in black coats. Two with silver swords on their collars were feeling men out about whether they might like to learn to channel. Oh, they did not say so right out. **Wield the lightnings, they called it. Wield the lightnings and ride the thunder.** But it was clear enough to me, if not to the fools they were talking to."
So, the recruiting Asha'men use the phrases "wield lightning, ride thunder" to get more men to join them. During the Breaking the male Aes Sedai went mad and "tore the world asunder". In the current age, the men tend to go mad too, in their own way, and less noticable. They do get a rough and forced training, which, imo, might speed up the effects of the taint as well. Anyway, the rebirth of the Dragon heralds a new breaking (it's said in references to the LB, and the prophecies), the upcoming of which can be seen as the "rising storm". His army of Asha'men is supposed to help. We don't know yet what happens then, but I imagine that while "wielding lightning and riding thunder" it might as well feel like the world is torn asunder.
Of course, my reply doesn't say anything about the origin of the poem (imo could just as well be either the male Aes Sedai of yore or the new Asha'men), and it's quite loosely interpreted, but sometimes the simple approach works just as well.
