Sonnet #5: To Ajani, Mentor of Heroes

Is Scuttlemutt thy closest friend? Why, mage,

Dost thou revise thy color choice so soon?

First white as virgin snow, then red with rage,

And now more green than hellebore in June.

'Tis true that other planeswalkers have strayed

And, seeking novelty, old shades foregone;

On Garruk's soul corruption's veil was laid

And Sarkhan lost his mind as Bolas' pawn.

Are these the champions thou wouldst emulate?

Wilt thou next kneel in an Orzhov nave?

Turn skyknight and defend Prahv's regal gate?

Or grovel as an Elder Dragon's slave?

Alack! A bold white leonin and true

Should not be a chameleon in hue.

Sonnet #4: To Emmara Tandris

Whence came she by such sturdiness and brawn

Who is no elemental, but an elf?

What other shaman blocks Rix Maadi's spawn,

Or knocks out Hellkite Tyrants by herself?

None but Emmara Tandris, stalwart maid,

Selesnya's runner and its champion fair.

And stronger still with token-wrought brigade;

(She's not just Hexplate Golem, guys, I swear!)

But no mere elf has such vitality

Or lustiness, and though I sing her praise,

Her strength comes not by nature. Know that she,

Like Armstrong, juiced to win the Tour de Maze!

And though her thews be mightier than Mars,

On Gatherer, she'll never break two stars.

Sonnet #3: On people who want Counterspell to be reprinted

I heard an ancient mage lamenting blue.
For Counterspell's return he made his plea:
"Imagine if a Bolt dealt only two;
That's how I feel when Cancel costs me three!
I loved the game much better long ago,
Forbidding my opponents all day long.
But now they print no goodies for Draw-Go.
Oh, how could R&D have gone so wrong?"
Quoth I, "Sir, if you care about the game,
Think on the fates of those whom you Dismissed.
To them, those duels were tedious and lame.
Your deck pretended theirs did not exist!
Though Counterspell emits nostalgia's glow,
You might as well be waiting for Godot."

Sonnet #2: To Doom Blade

Shall I forget the day I saw your face
And knew that Terror's reign was at an end?
All terror in my heart was soon replaced
with fondest love for Doom Blade, my dear friend.
Oft have we smashed a Wurmcoil into twain
And watched its pieces feebly crawl away.
Oft did we halt an Angel slaying Bane
or leave Huntmaster's wolf a lonely stray.
But now you needs must leave, and Cupid's dart
has Gone straight for my Throat, and struck me down.
A Dead Weight hangs too heavy on my heart
and Wrings my Flesh until in tears I drown.
Whence came this loss?  It lies on R&D.
With Murder's advent, they have murdered thee.

Sonnet #1: To Storm Crow

On charcoal wings it plummets from above:

An omen ill, claims Arna Kennerüd.

Yet in my heart, its sight brings only love.

For Storm Crow, other two-drops I eschewed.

Play Tarmogoyf?  What if my graveyard's light?

I had as lief throw down a Runeclaw Bear!

Tiago's Mage is flashy, but too slight-

That weakling dies to Gut Shot, Zap, or Flare.

No Confidant too Dark shall grace my board,

Since cards for life I'll not so dearly buy.

Though Stoneforge Mystic bring along her Sword,

I'll none of her, until she learns to fly!

No better card did e'er see print in blue

Than Storm Crow, that magnificent 1/2.