Cold of Mikramurka

My hands have felt the cold of Mikramurka

I have tasted
the waters of Lenai
the blue of the chill sky
the cry of the hawk in high summer

My heart has felt the cold of Mikramurka

I remember
and can find no warmth
this place is not known by my ancestors

(Traditional, "Cold of Mikramurka")

Voluval anniversaries and birthdays

In my clan, Voluvals are traditionally held in late summer. Afterwards, there is a big party that doubles as Voluval anniversary celebration for everybody.

Birthdays are remembered also, but are more of a "friends" thing than something one marks with kin.

Negotiating marriage contracts yourself?

Negotiating your marriage contract yourself might sound like a good idea, until you comprehend all the legal expertise and wrangling of different interests that goes into one.

I mean, do you really want to spend your pre-marriage honeymoon time haggling with your sweetie over how your common property might be divided after a death or divorce?

Or would it be much nicer if you knew Somebody Else with your best interests at heart will sort out an advantageous deal for you?

This is something I believe us Matari do better than the Gallente.

Once an error

Once an error
Twice a fool
Thrice a habit

Marriages and divorces

Sometimes, marriages do not work out.

I wonder how the clanless manage divorces, with no proper marriage contract and no clan to look after their interests. With difficulty, I imagine.

Not that having a contract makes the situation easy, either.

Home is a feeling

My clan holds home is not a place, or even people who inhabit it. Homemaking ceremony is one we do several times in our lives.

Home is a feeling. A sense of identity. A connection to our ancestors. The value of the ceremony is in making us remember, renewing the bond so we do not forget them, and they do not forget us.

Like Water

There are poems for warriors, and poems for builders.
This is one from my clan:

We are strong like water is strong.
Try to contain us, and we will find a new path.
Try to freeze us, and we will burst all bounds.
Try to burn us, and we fall back everywhere like rain.

I am strong like water is strong. I will find a new path.

IGS, about religion

Post to IGS:

There is no single Matari religion. Clans have their own ways.

In my clan, we believe in the existence of gods, but we do not worship them or follow their commands. We honor our ancestors, with whom we share body and spirit. We understand virtues, honor and duty, and assert that there is a difference between right and wrong.

Not really in reply to Archbishop, more to educate others who may read it.

As if a religion should necessarily be about gods or afterlife, or that the existence of a god necessitates following her will.

The price of anger is embarrassment

My clan has a saying: "The price of anger is embarrassment".

What it refers to is that in my clan a public insult is seen to require a public apology. The thinking in our clan is that the custom sets the social norm of acceptable behaviour.

If the insult or crime happens in public, but chastisement and consequences are private, people who are not participants in the events will see the insult and not the amends. This may lead to the conclusion there have been no amends, that such behaviour is all right - even if that is not true.

Incidentally, the custom also acts as something of a deterrent to hotheads, such as yours truly. Being forced to publicly admit you're wrong can sting, even if you actually are wrong.

Non-capsuleer implants

For many people, capsuleer implants are the first ones they get.

I got my first child-model implants in my teens, after proper clan rites. Memory augmentation, math routines, file storage and such basic school-help stuff.

A riddle

A riddle from my childhood:

More precious than gold,
lighter than thought.
Can be sold but not bought,
and broken but not mended.