A Man's Journey, A Woman's Plight, Songs, Where Demons Tread

“My Love For Thee” (Song)

“My Love For Thee” By Athena Stairs
Original 11/11/25 – Updated 12/2/25

Sing to me, my King of Hearts
Of the garden in your dreams

What treasure does it hold and
What pleasures will it bring?

Sing to me, my Dearest Heart
Where you’ll want to grow your roses

For I would build you a castle
Built on hope’s foundations

Where I would hear your laughter
In halls and among fountains

And if tears were cried – they’d be of Joy
As we nourish love’s horizons

Sing to me my Beloved One
Of your greatest aspirations

For I would see your happiness
Grow wings and soar through Heaven

For as Knight you earned your honor
With battles’ proven mettle

And all I’ve ever wanted is
To give your heart a home

(Please contact me for permissions)

Listen to My Love For Thee – Song Final Rough 12.3.25.m4a by Candid Corvid Productions on #SoundCloud
https://on.soundcloud.com/O43zuOlhu7R1Tj1t59

A Man's Journey, A Woman's Plight, Male Bonding, Unicorns, Where Demons Tread

You Make Me Believe

She’d had to allow the corruption to become a part of her in order to survive, neutralizing and owning it while bound to its puppet strings.

He’d met her there in the darkness – had called out to bridge with love’s intention, awakening the passion she’d held under tight leash as it ignited her need to embrace him.

But when she saw him suddenly in person in a brief glance shared that none before could ever compare, her hidden innocence suddenly recognized his hidden innocence – and two pairs of wide blue eyes starled back to their cores in a flash of white gold brilliance.

Transformed into unicorns and both confused by their suddenly repairing souls’ clammoring to take this union seriously, their high spirits kicked up heels in overwhelm – and tossing heads fled to opposite directions for safe distance.

A Man's Journey, A Woman's Plight, Male Bonding, Where Demons Tread

Finding Love In A Friend

She came upon a singing class practicing low pressure, cozy outdoor performances in a little cafe outer nook with supportive atmosphere.

He was there, phasing in and out of his younger to now form and they linked somehow at distance.

Both extremely shy in person, their nerves became more secure over time during the practice as when one would look toward the other the other would receive and give back just a tiny bit more.

“Yes…hello…I’m here…I like you,” careful yet clear signaling throughout the session passed between them.

Toward the end of the class, she sang a little over the recording, just trying to get the words smooth and right, and then he followed, lightly playing with stretching tones upward.

By the end of his song, she felt some slight confidance inside bloom where she never had before – and got reinforcement from his glance lingering in her direction that he felt the same, too.

Her heartbeat quickened as the class began to end because she felt the first sense of real hope that he would want to spend time with her – and that maybe their connection would grow and become something that they both could keep, instead of something shallow that often quickly ends.

(Last of last night’s dreams)

A Man's Journey, Athena, Elden Ways, Myths & Legends, Songs

“Golden Gates” (Song)

By Athena Stairs, October 25, 2025

I remember you from Elden days
As a whisper upon the wind

When love was just a shadow
In a world submerged in sin

And everywhere I’d follow
Led to high cliffs or dead ends

No money begged nor borrowed
Could erase our souls as kin

And if I were to tell you
We were someday meant to be

Would it be enough to hold you
Now we’ve found this reality?

My light it’s always been you
We have followed in its wake

The purest of intentions
Our blood never forsakes

Yet I who’ve come before you
Knows youth that still debates

How much longer when so close
Before our keys open the gate?

And instinct burns the scriptures
Where the wicked stole our fate?

For lifetimes we have witnessed
From afar the promised land

In each other’s eyes in passing
Swore an oath to hold your hand

Come to me now
Come home at last

It’s time we feast
On love’s repast

And all the world
Will know at last

What it feels like
To be truly blessed

Come revel with me
Breathe in the scent

Of Eden’s garden
No longer Hellbent

Children of God
As our descent

No longer cast
Far to wander

Come meet me
At the alter

Where our hearts
Spring wings anew

I know you
I know you

I know you
It’s true

I know you
I love you

Free at last
Me and you

—-

Haunting Elden melodies of longing.

(Please contact me for permissions)

A Man's Journey, A Return To Innocence, Elden Ways, Featured Artists, Myths & Legends, Reclamation

(Stars – Eriks Esenvalds, Oregon Repertory Singers)

Dr. Ethan Sperry, Artistic Director
Lisa Riffel, Assistant Conductor & Choir Manager
Naomi LaViolette, Accompanist

David Peterson, Producer & Editor

Stars
Music: Ēriks Ešenvalds
Lyrics: Sara Teasdale

Alone in the night
On a dark hill
With pines around me
Spicy and still

And a heaven full of stars
Over my head
White and topaz
And misty red;

Myriads with beating
Hearts of fire
The aeons
Cannot vex or tire;

Up the dome of heaven
Like a great hill
I watch them marching
Stately and still

And I know that I
Am honored to be
Witness
Of so much majesty

A Man's Journey, A Woman's Plight

The Offering

From that angle, the light shined upon his face revealing the pure innocence still residing within him, displayed for her acceptance in vulnerable openness.

It shocked her to her core, for never had she seen such bright beauty – for she could see the light of his soul emanating from back through time to how he’d always been, from the beginning.

So young – so young! her heart leapt out to protect him.

How could she want one so young? She drew back in shame at her assumptions.

But she knew that she must have seen the limits of time as they frissioned.

Fidgeting nervously for an hour while on the important call and casting tenuous glances around her, she saw him at last cross behind her quickly the opposite way, striding purposefully to a car and clutching a rolled up and well-creased paper bag that indicated his nervousness.

As she turned to better look at his retreating, strong and mature back, all she could think of was there went the man that she loved most fervently.

And she felt powerless to stop him.