With a bloody cry for arms, beat to quarters
Out of hell, he does appear
Heavy with mead, because
Of knowledge, the foreteller's
Casting of spells
The fight is in vain
Back and forth, orders are wrung
Like a bubbling botch in a couldron,
The seas begin to be disturbed
On the starboard side
For spears and muskets, we turn to
Though the fight is in vain
One last time, pass the wine
Never the bride that would be mine
Rush of wind from these English,
Gray skies, Feel the fragrant Fall
For it will be last
Seas now boiling, for the sake of time
Tendrils seem to float towards us
Turning into Hades' helpers
Blessed be the man that prayed
May our souls rest above
Though in vain, rescue is sought
Thrown into wild panic, shots were
Blown, Down with a limb, wrought
By the captain
Captain of the Hesperus
Lost to sea, his own daughter was
Tied to the mast, though intentions
were well, revenge he sought
To hold in his callused hands
Down three more, after fourty days
In a land of whales, the beast
Sought humans' blood, and did
Have his way amoung us
How much longer could we last
With such scarce a crew
'Til the tentacles were disembodied
And sought its lair
Rejoice, we did, God's mercy
Abundant and Mighty, a home
We sought, to turn us back
To mortals again
Author notes
This is sort of a epilougue to the Wreck of Hesperus by Longfellow. There's a Pagan vs. Christian theme going on. I was inspired by Beowulf for that theme. I liked the constrast of the two so I wanted to try it out for myself. Also, notice how I referred to the Jonah Bible story.
"Down three more, after fourty days
In a land of whales..."
This symbolizes safety and that they'll pull out sooner or later.
Mead, mentioned in the second stanza, means rum or beer.
There is also a fairy tale side. Notice in the last stanza, that after they thank God, they now search for a place to turn back to mortals. They were immortal through the whole thing. What human can fight for fourty straight days out at sea anyway?
Comments
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I found it unusual but very enjoyable. I have never read Hesperus by Longfellow, perhaps this is actually to my advantage as there is no gauge to go by. I found that this what I would call a real man's poem, it has the flow of excitement of a battle.
language: 5, rhythm: 4, subject: 5, tone: 4, form: 3.
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That's interesting
I was wondering where the story was going to go since the fight was in vain so the ending surprised me. I'm familiar with the works you based it on but I what inspired it until I read your note. I have to admit it's deeper than most of mine. I'm a rhyme and rythm poet airing towards the lighter and more humorous side of life.
Great work telling the story.
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