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Book One Prelude: As Romans before them, they built the city upward— layer ‘pon layer as the polar caps receded layer by layer—preserving what they could, if someday the waters may recede back into the former polar ice caps; restoring the long inundated coastlines. Home: A man sat upon a tall pub stool stroking his ginger beard while grasping a pint loosely in his other hand. An elderly gent stood next to him. The older gentleman noticed that the ginger bearded man’s pint sat almost quite near the bottom of its tulip glass. A woman with eyes of amber and hair as chestnut strolled through a vineyard amongst the ripening grapes full of juice to soon become wine. She clutched a notebook—behind (10) thick black covers lay ideas and sketches to bring the world to a more natural state—balancing the wonders and the merits of technology apace with the allure ‘n’ sanctity borne to the natural world. When the ginger bearded man finished the final drops of his stout, another appeared heretofore him—courtesy owed to the elder gentleman. “Notice dat ye got d’ mark o’ a man accustom amid the seas,” (20) he inferred; gesturing the black and blue compass rose inscribed inside a ship’s wheel, imbedded into the back of the ginger bearded man’s weathered right hand.                  “I have crewed and skippered a many fine vessel, but I am renouncing my life at sea—one final voyage I have left inside of me: one single terminal Irish-Atlantic voyage t’ward home.” (30) “Aye d’ sea can beh cold ‘nd harsh, but she enchants me heart. Ta where are ye headed fer d’ place ye call home, d’ere sonny boy?”      “’tis not simply a where, ‘tis a who. Certain events have led me to be separate from my wife. For five eternal years I have been traveling— waiting to be in her embrace. The force of the Sea, she, is a cruel one. For (40) it seams: at every tack or gybe the farther off I am thrown from my homeward direction to stranger and stranger lands… I have gone to the graveyard of hell and the pearly gates of (the so called) heaven; I have engaged in foolhardy deals—made bets only a gambling addict would place. All to just be with Zara. I am homesick—Zara is my home—it doesn’t matter where (physically) we are located, my home is with Zara. I (50) was advised to draw nigh the clove of Cork and wait; wait for a man, but I was barely given a clue as to who this man is, only I must return him this:” the ginger bearded man held out a dull silver pocket watch with a frigate cut into the front cover and two roses sharing a single stem swirling upon themselves cut into the back.    “Can it be? ‘Tis meh watch dat meh (60) fat’er gave t’ meh right before he died… I lost it at sea many a year ago. It left meh heartbroken—fer it was meh only lasting mem’ry of him… Come to t’ink I was told by a beggar in the street—I do not remember how long ago—dat I would happen across a man wit’ somet’ing dear t’ meh, and I’d accomp’ny dis man on a journey, and dis man would have upon ‘im d’ mark of a true sailor…” (70)     “Dear elder man, my name is Abraham; the mark you see represents the control that I have on my direction—thought it appears the Sea retains some ascendancy… Yet now, it appears, the Sea is upholding her bargain—though a bit late... Do you, by chance, own a vessel that can fair to Colorado?—all across this mist’d island no skipper ‘ll uptake my plea; they fear the sharp wrath of the Sea (80) or (if they have no fear) simply claim my home ‘is not on their routes…’ i’tis a line I’ve heard too often. I would’ve purchased a vessel, but the Sea, she, has deprived me completely of my identity and equity.” Zara, with her rich chestnut hair sat upon a fountain in a piazza—her half empty heart longing to savor the hallow presence of Abraham, and stroke his ginger beard… Everyday she would look out at the sea (90) whence he left…      All encouraged her to: “forgo further pursuit”; “he is likely deceased by now”—his vessel (what left) scuttled amidst the rocks of Cape Horn, yet Zara could feel deep-seated inside her soul he is alive; Alive (somewhere) fighting to return home. Never would Zara leave; never would she abandon post; she made that promise five years ago as Abraham, ‘n’ his crew, set out on their final voyage; and she (100) would be ****** ere she broke her promise—a promise of the heart—a promise of love. Abraham said: “You are my lighthouse; your love, it, will guide me home—keep me from danger—as long as you remain my lighthouse, I’ll forever be set to return home—return home to you.” Out from Crosshaven did the old man take steadfast Abraham en route to his home. Grey Irish skies turned blue as they made their way out on the Irish Sea, southwest, toward (110) the southern end of the Appalachian Island. The gentle biting spray of the waves breaking over the bow and beam moistened the ginger bearded face of Abraham; his tattooed hands grasped the helm—his resolute stare kept him and the old man acutely on course. A shame, it struck the old man, this would be the final voyage of Abraham… he: the best crew that the old man had ever came across; (120) uncertain if simply the character of Abraham or his pers’nal desire to return home in the wake of five long salty-cold years—a vassal to the Sea and her changing whim. Never had the old man seen his ship sail as fast as he did when Abraham accorded its deck—each sail set without flaw: easing and trimming sheets fractions of an inch—purely to obtain the slightest gain in speed; the display warmed (130) the heart of the old man.         And thus the elder gent mused as he lightly puffed on his pipe while sitting on the stern pulpit regarding at Abraham’s passion to return home (as he calls her):—maybe dis is d’ reason d’ Sea has fought so hard, and lied, t’ keep Abraham from returning home… Could not bear t’ lose such fine a sailor from her expanses—she is known t’ be quite a jealous (140) mistress…       But for all Abraham’s will and passion, the old man insisted for the fellow to rest; otherwise lack of sleep would cause the REM fiddler to reap his debt—replace clarity of mind with opacity. Reluctantly stalwart Abraham gave in and retire below deck—yet the old man doubted the amount of rest that he acquired in those moments out of his sight. (150) For the days, then weeks, in the wake of their departure from the port-island Crosshaven, the seas were calm as open water can: gentle azure rolling swells oscillated and helped impel the vessel forward. The southern craggy cape of the Appalachian Island pierced the horizon. Like a threshold it stood for Abraham—a major landmark; the closest to home he had been in five salty long years—his limbo was beginning (160) to fade, his heart slowly—for the first time since he left port in eastern Colorado— started to feel replete again. The Great Plains Sea—his final sea—he would not miss the gleam of his lighthouse stalwart on shore. Book Two Oracle: Upon a beach, Abraham found himself alone—gasping in gulps of moist air like that of a new born baby first (10) experiencing the breathe of life; he felt as if he would never become dry again… the salt burning his skin as it crusted over when the water evap’rated into the air; Abraham took the first night to rest, the next day he set to make shelter and wait for a rescue crew; out he stared at the crashing waves hoping for a plane or faint form of a ship upon the horizon…days and nights spun into an alternating display of day then night: light then dark—light, dark, light, dark, grey, grey, grey… Abraham (20) gave up marking the days—realized the searches are done— given up after looking in the wrong places (even he did not know where he was…) the cold waves and currents took him to a safe shore away from his ship and crew, in a limp unconscious float… From the trees, and what he could find on the small  island, Abraham occupied himself with the task of building a catamaran to rid himself of the grey-waiting. Out he cast his meager vessel into (30) the battering surf; waves broke over his bows and centre platform—each foot forward, the waves threatened to push him back twofold… Abraham struck-beat the water with the oars he fashioned; rising and falling with the energy of the waves; Abraham stole brief looks back with hopes of a van’shing shoreline—coast refused to vanish… his drenched arms grew tired; yet he pushed on knowing he would soon be out passed the breaking waves; then could relax and hoist sail; yet the waves grew taller—broke with greater power… Abraham struck-beat the water with his oars—anger welled—leading to splashes of (40) ivory sea-froth instead of the desired progress forward; eventually, his arms fell limp beyond the force of will… waves tumbled him back to shore as he did the first night upon the island… Dejected Abraham lay in the surf that night—the gentle ebb of the sea added to insult, but hid the tears formed in the corner of his eyes— salt water to salt water… the next day Abraham took inventory of damage: the mast snapped in multiple places, the rudders askew—the hulls and centre structure (50) remained intact; the oars lost (or at least Abraham cared not to search); over the next weeks he set to improve the design and efficiency of his vessel—the first had been hurried and that of a man desperate to leave; the bare minimum that would suffice—he set to create a vessel to ensure his departure from the des’late accrue of sand and vegetation; Abraham laboured to strengthen his body—pushing his arms further passed the point his mind believed they could go—consuming the hearty, protein-rich, mollusks, and small shellfish he could find inside (60) tide pools or shallows—if lucky, larger fish that dared the nearby reefs. Patiently, Abraham observed the tides and breaking water; he wanted to determine the correct time to set off to ensure success—when the waves would not toss him back to the beach; the day: a calm clear day—only within few metres of soft beach did there exist any breaking waves, and those that broke were barely a metre high; loading provisions upon the vessel, Abraham bid farewell to the island (out of wont for the sustenance (70) it gave not for nostalgia) grasping his oars, he set forth to find open sea—where the waves do not break and set you gingerly on foreign shore(s); Abraham paddled passed the first few breaking waves, his heart pounding with hope—he stifled the thoughts (celebrate when the island is but a subtle blue curve upon the horizon); as the island began to shrink in his vision, the sky to his back grew darker… the waves started to swell—moguls grew to hills—Abraham stroked up and rode down; the cursèd Island refused to shrink… if not begin to grow wider… stroke by stroke Abraham (80) grew frustrated—stroke by stroke frustration advanced into anger—stroke by stroke anger augmented into fiery beating of the water!—Abraham struck and struck at the Sea—eyes closed—white knuckles—trashing!—unsure which direction he paddled…sky pitch-black, wind blowing on-shore Abraham bellowed out to the Sea in inarticulate roars of: hatefrustrationpitydesperationheartache! Towards Abraham’s in-linguistic roar, the sky let out a crack of authority! a wave swept the flailing Abraham (90) into the ocean—cool water only heated the rage in Abraham’s mind—his half empty heart only wanted: to sail home, become whole  again—sit under and olive tree and stroke the chestnut hair of Zara as she drifted off to sleep on his chest while he would whisper sweet verses into her ear… Abraham’s rage, beyond reason, forgot the boat and all clarity, he tried to swim away from the cursèd island—scrambling up waves only to tumble back with their breaking peaks—salt, the only taste in his mouth; churning his stomach to ***** his kidney’s praying he (100) would  not swallow anymore… his gasps stifled any curse Abraham’s head wished to expel onto the Sea—yet she swore she heard one final curse escape his lips! at that the Sea tossed Abraham (head first) into his ghost-helmed vessel— all went dark for hostile Abraham… Contemplating back at his rage—knowing the barbarian it makes of him, Abraham peered into the band inscribed into his ring-finger and saw the knot tying him to Zara—shame at his arrogant-uncontrolled-fury sent Abraham (110) into a meditative exile inside of his mind (within the exile of the island…) in his mental exile Abraham spun into deeper despair at his two failures—even more at the prospect of failing the vow he professed onto Zara: return home—home from this final voyage, grow old with her on solid ground, never to die apart and cause the pain of losing a loved one without the closure of truly knowing the death is real, to die by her side white, white with the purity of age… Abraham’s destitution turned inward—his fury, the (120) lack of control, the demon he becomes when rage surges through his muscles; equiping him with untamed strength without direction or self-possession—so much potential, yet no productive way to use it… Abraham’s half-full-heart burned, ached with passion and anguish—all desire focused on home, his return, but the mind’s despondency and insistent ‘what-ifs’ kept poor Abraham prostrate in his mental cave—all his wishing for anger and vi’lence to force his will, it did more to retain him upon the cursèd island than bring his heart closer to fulfillment: (130) his long awaited home… Out of his mental exile did Abraham’s irises dilate and contract with blinding illumination—self-pity is not what make things happen— it would only serve to anger Zara—nothing other than I can be to blame for my continued absence; I am stronger than that!—looking at the tattoo in his hand, he remembered the reasons for the perennial brand— the eight-spoke ship’s helm: the eight-fold-path—I must cut off my desire for anger to be the solution and focus (140) on the one path to Zara—the mind can push the body further than the body believes is possible—the star: the compass to guide me via celestial bodies to where my heart can see the guiding beam of my lighthouse!
0
Jul 12, 2013
Jul 12, 2013 at 11:06 PM UTC
Final Voyage (manuscript so far)
Book One Prelude: As Romans before them, they built the city upward— layer ‘pon layer as the polar caps receded layer by layer—preserving what they could, if someday the waters may recede back into the former polar ice caps; restoring the long inundated coastlines. Home: A man sat upon a tall pub stool stroking his ginger beard while grasping a pint loosely in his other hand. An elderly gent stood next to him. The older gentleman noticed that the ginger bearded man’s pint sat almost quite near the bottom of its tulip glass. A woman with eyes of amber and hair as chestnut strolled through a vineyard amongst the ripening grapes full of juice to soon become wine. She clutched a notebook—behind (10) thick black covers lay ideas and sketches to bring the world to a more natural state—balancing the wonders and the merits of technology apace with the allure ‘n’ sanctity borne to the natural world. When the ginger bearded man finished the final drops of his stout, another appeared heretofore him—courtesy owed to the elder gentleman. “Notice dat ye got d’ mark o’ a man accustom amid the seas,” (20) he inferred; gesturing the black and blue compass rose inscribed inside a ship’s wheel, imbedded into the back of the ginger bearded man’s weathered right hand.                  “I have crewed and skippered a many fine vessel, but I am renouncing my life at sea—one final voyage I have left inside of me: one single terminal Irish-Atlantic voyage t’ward home.” (30) “Aye d’ sea can beh cold ‘nd harsh, but she enchants me heart. Ta where are ye headed fer d’ place ye call home, d’ere sonny boy?”      “’tis not simply a where, ‘tis a who. Certain events have led me to be separate from my wife. For five eternal years I have been traveling— waiting to be in her embrace. The force of the Sea, she, is a cruel one. For (40) it seams: at every tack or gybe the farther off I am thrown from my homeward direction to stranger and stranger lands… I have gone to the graveyard of hell and the pearly gates of (the so called) heaven; I have engaged in foolhardy deals—made bets only a gambling addict would place. All to just be with Zara. I am homesick—Zara is my home—it doesn’t matter where (physically) we are located, my home is with Zara. I (50) was advised to draw nigh the clove of Cork and wait; wait for a man, but I was barely given a clue as to who this man is, only I must return him this:” the ginger bearded man held out a dull silver pocket watch with a frigate cut into the front cover and two roses sharing a single stem swirling upon themselves cut into the back.    “Can it be? ‘Tis meh watch dat meh (60) fat’er gave t’ meh right before he died… I lost it at sea many a year ago. It left meh heartbroken—fer it was meh only lasting mem’ry of him… Come to t’ink I was told by a beggar in the street—I do not remember how long ago—dat I would happen across a man wit’ somet’ing dear t’ meh, and I’d accomp’ny dis man on a journey, and dis man would have upon ‘im d’ mark of a true sailor…” (70)     “Dear elder man, my name is Abraham; the mark you see represents the control that I have on my direction—thought it appears the Sea retains some ascendancy… Yet now, it appears, the Sea is upholding her bargain—though a bit late... Do you, by chance, own a vessel that can fair to Colorado?—all across this mist’d island no skipper ‘ll uptake my plea; they fear the sharp wrath of the Sea (80) or (if they have no fear) simply claim my home ‘is not on their routes…’ i’tis a line I’ve heard too often. I would’ve purchased a vessel, but the Sea, she, has deprived me completely of my identity and equity.” Zara, with her rich chestnut hair sat upon a fountain in a piazza—her half empty heart longing to savor the hallow presence of Abraham, and stroke his ginger beard… Everyday she would look out at the sea (90) whence he left…      All encouraged her to: “forgo further pursuit”; “he is likely deceased by now”—his vessel (what left) scuttled amidst the rocks of Cape Horn, yet Zara could feel deep-seated inside her soul he is alive; Alive (somewhere) fighting to return home. Never would Zara leave; never would she abandon post; she made that promise five years ago as Abraham, ‘n’ his crew, set out on their final voyage; and she (100) would be ****** ere she broke her promise—a promise of the heart—a promise of love. Abraham said: “You are my lighthouse; your love, it, will guide me home—keep me from danger—as long as you remain my lighthouse, I’ll forever be set to return home—return home to you.” Out from Crosshaven did the old man take steadfast Abraham en route to his home. Grey Irish skies turned blue as they made their way out on the Irish Sea, southwest, toward (110) the southern end of the Appalachian Island. The gentle biting spray of the waves breaking over the bow and beam moistened the ginger bearded face of Abraham; his tattooed hands grasped the helm—his resolute stare kept him and the old man acutely on course. A shame, it struck the old man, this would be the final voyage of Abraham… he: the best crew that the old man had ever came across; (120) uncertain if simply the character of Abraham or his pers’nal desire to return home in the wake of five long salty-cold years—a vassal to the Sea and her changing whim. Never had the old man seen his ship sail as fast as he did when Abraham accorded its deck—each sail set without flaw: easing and trimming sheets fractions of an inch—purely to obtain the slightest gain in speed; the display warmed (130) the heart of the old man.         And thus the elder gent mused as he lightly puffed on his pipe while sitting on the stern pulpit regarding at Abraham’s passion to return home (as he calls her):—maybe dis is d’ reason d’ Sea has fought so hard, and lied, t’ keep Abraham from returning home… Could not bear t’ lose such fine a sailor from her expanses—she is known t’ be quite a jealous (140) mistress…       But for all Abraham’s will and passion, the old man insisted for the fellow to rest; otherwise lack of sleep would cause the REM fiddler to reap his debt—replace clarity of mind with opacity. Reluctantly stalwart Abraham gave in and retire below deck—yet the old man doubted the amount of rest that he acquired in those moments out of his sight. (150) For the days, then weeks, in the wake of their departure from the port-island Crosshaven, the seas were calm as open water can: gentle azure rolling swells oscillated and helped impel the vessel forward. The southern craggy cape of the Appalachian Island pierced the horizon. Like a threshold it stood for Abraham—a major landmark; the closest to home he had been in five salty long years—his limbo was beginning (160) to fade, his heart slowly—for the first time since he left port in eastern Colorado— started to feel replete again. The Great Plains Sea—his final sea—he would not miss the gleam of his lighthouse stalwart on shore. Book Two Oracle: Upon a beach, Abraham found himself alone—gasping in gulps of moist air like that of a new born baby first (10) experiencing the breathe of life; he felt as if he would never become dry again… the salt burning his skin as it crusted over when the water evap’rated into the air; Abraham took the first night to rest, the next day he set to make shelter and wait for a rescue crew; out he stared at the crashing waves hoping for a plane or faint form of a ship upon the horizon…days and nights spun into an alternating display of day then night: light then dark—light, dark, light, dark, grey, grey, grey… Abraham (20) gave up marking the days—realized the searches are done— given up after looking in the wrong places (even he did not know where he was…) the cold waves and currents took him to a safe shore away from his ship and crew, in a limp unconscious float… From the trees, and what he could find on the small  island, Abraham occupied himself with the task of building a catamaran to rid himself of the grey-waiting. Out he cast his meager vessel into (30) the battering surf; waves broke over his bows and centre platform—each foot forward, the waves threatened to push him back twofold… Abraham struck-beat the water with the oars he fashioned; rising and falling with the energy of the waves; Abraham stole brief looks back with hopes of a van’shing shoreline—coast refused to vanish… his drenched arms grew tired; yet he pushed on knowing he would soon be out passed the breaking waves; then could relax and hoist sail; yet the waves grew taller—broke with greater power… Abraham struck-beat the water with his oars—anger welled—leading to splashes of (40) ivory sea-froth instead of the desired progress forward; eventually, his arms fell limp beyond the force of will… waves tumbled him back to shore as he did the first night upon the island… Dejected Abraham lay in the surf that night—the gentle ebb of the sea added to insult, but hid the tears formed in the corner of his eyes— salt water to salt water… the next day Abraham took inventory of damage: the mast snapped in multiple places, the rudders askew—the hulls and centre structure (50) remained intact; the oars lost (or at least Abraham cared not to search); over the next weeks he set to improve the design and efficiency of his vessel—the first had been hurried and that of a man desperate to leave; the bare minimum that would suffice—he set to create a vessel to ensure his departure from the des’late accrue of sand and vegetation; Abraham laboured to strengthen his body—pushing his arms further passed the point his mind believed they could go—consuming the hearty, protein-rich, mollusks, and small shellfish he could find inside (60) tide pools or shallows—if lucky, larger fish that dared the nearby reefs. Patiently, Abraham observed the tides and breaking water; he wanted to determine the correct time to set off to ensure success—when the waves would not toss him back to the beach; the day: a calm clear day—only within few metres of soft beach did there exist any breaking waves, and those that broke were barely a metre high; loading provisions upon the vessel, Abraham bid farewell to the island (out of wont for the sustenance (70) it gave not for nostalgia) grasping his oars, he set forth to find open sea—where the waves do not break and set you gingerly on foreign shore(s); Abraham paddled passed the first few breaking waves, his heart pounding with hope—he stifled the thoughts (celebrate when the island is but a subtle blue curve upon the horizon); as the island began to shrink in his vision, the sky to his back grew darker… the waves started to swell—moguls grew to hills—Abraham stroked up and rode down; the cursèd Island refused to shrink… if not begin to grow wider… stroke by stroke Abraham (80) grew frustrated—stroke by stroke frustration advanced into anger—stroke by stroke anger augmented into fiery beating of the water!—Abraham struck and struck at the Sea—eyes closed—white knuckles—trashing!—unsure which direction he paddled…sky pitch-black, wind blowing on-shore Abraham bellowed out to the Sea in inarticulate roars of: hatefrustrationpitydesperationheartache! Towards Abraham’s in-linguistic roar, the sky let out a crack of authority! a wave swept the flailing Abraham (90) into the ocean—cool water only heated the rage in Abraham’s mind—his half empty heart only wanted: to sail home, become whole  again—sit under and olive tree and stroke the chestnut hair of Zara as she drifted off to sleep on his chest while he would whisper sweet verses into her ear… Abraham’s rage, beyond reason, forgot the boat and all clarity, he tried to swim away from the cursèd island—scrambling up waves only to tumble back with their breaking peaks—salt, the only taste in his mouth; churning his stomach to ***** his kidney’s praying he (100) would  not swallow anymore… his gasps stifled any curse Abraham’s head wished to expel onto the Sea—yet she swore she heard one final curse escape his lips! at that the Sea tossed Abraham (head first) into his ghost-helmed vessel— all went dark for hostile Abraham… Contemplating back at his rage—knowing the barbarian it makes of him, Abraham peered into the band inscribed into his ring-finger and saw the knot tying him to Zara—shame at his arrogant-uncontrolled-fury sent Abraham (110) into a meditative exile inside of his mind (within the exile of the island…) in his mental exile Abraham spun into deeper despair at his two failures—even more at the prospect of failing the vow he professed onto Zara: return home—home from this final voyage, grow old with her on solid ground, never to die apart and cause the pain of losing a loved one without the closure of truly knowing the death is real, to die by her side white, white with the purity of age… Abraham’s destitution turned inward—his fury, the (120) lack of control, the demon he becomes when rage surges through his muscles; equiping him with untamed strength without direction or self-possession—so much potential, yet no productive way to use it… Abraham’s half-full-heart burned, ached with passion and anguish—all desire focused on home, his return, but the mind’s despondency and insistent ‘what-ifs’ kept poor Abraham prostrate in his mental cave—all his wishing for anger and vi’lence to force his will, it did more to retain him upon the cursèd island than bring his heart closer to fulfillment: (130) his long awaited home… Out of his mental exile did Abraham’s irises dilate and contract with blinding illumination—self-pity is not what make things happen— it would only serve to anger Zara—nothing other than I can be to blame for my continued absence; I am stronger than that!—looking at the tattoo in his hand, he remembered the reasons for the perennial brand— the eight-spoke ship’s helm: the eight-fold-path—I must cut off my desire for anger to be the solution and focus (140) on the one path to Zara—the mind can push the body further than the body believes is possible—the star: the compass to guide me via celestial bodies to where my heart can see the guiding beam of my lighthouse!
This is the Final Voyage epic thus far. I am converting Home into blank verse and it is taking longer than I thought to do; which is why that part is incomplete here. I also added line numbers. I changed The names as well.
kendall-mallon
Written by
Jul 12, 2013
Jul 12, 2013 at 11:06 PM UTC
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