New Year's Poem 2022

[Anonymoose]

It's that time...


From the diary of an unknown man...


English

So wanes the moon before the sun,
its journey ended, home at last.
So look we now to days ahead,
Unfettered from our trying past.

Japanese

暁月を見上げ、去りし昔日を思い
暁月に目を細め、来たりし明日を祝う。
かくて天を巡りし太陽は、ふたたび戻り、
また新たな地を照らさんと、歩みだすのだ。

Looking up at the morning moon, I recall the days gone by,
As it fades into the rising sun, I smile, and celebrate the days to come.
Its return to heavens whence it came signals the end of a long journey,
And the beginning of another, to illuminate distant lands unknown.

German

Stumm glimmt er, der Morgenmond,
als ew'ger mahnmal fernes Tage.
Doch dann wärmt mich das Morgenrot
wirft gulden Schein auf neue Pfade.

Silently it glows, the morning moon,
memorial eternal to distant days.
But the dawn fills me with warmth
and lights paths unwalked in gilded rays.

French

L'astre sélénien, dernière réminiscence des temps anceins,
S'efface devant la soleil du matin, augure d'beureux lendemains.
Revenu parmi les siens après avoir brillé jusqu'aux confins
Vers de nouveaux horizons lointains, il eclaire notre chemin.

The selenite star, a final reminder of ancient past,
fades before the dawn, foretelling better days at last.
The morning sun returns from shining on distant bounds,
and towards new and far horizons the lighted way is found.


Even after only reading the Japanese, I could see that this was going to be another manifestation of Yoshida-san assuring us that, while the end of one journey for Once-Azem ... The Warrior of Light ... our dear adventurer has come, by no means is this the end of FFXIV... by no means is this the end of the "main" story or the "real story" or the "story that matters"... by no means will future content just be "extras". (I imagine that he is simultaneously assuring himself that we players will embrace that promise, since he offered his interpretation explicitly this time.) English strikes a pretty brave tone using the word "unfettered", one one that I would use if I were of a mind to sell the future. In concluding the story started by 1.0, we are now unburdened by duty to fall in line with that story. We can do what we want, go where we want, focus on anything we want, without wondering, "But what about Hydealyn and Zodiark and the Ascians?"

(Though...what about the remaining Ascians? /rib)

There is much left to do, friendos. Much more fun to be had.

Here's to a better year, all. If it's not going to be one on its own, we'll have to make it one ourselves.