The Stone

The Tale below was carved one night

Upon the Stone, by candlelight

...most won’t believe, but some just might

.........most won’t believe, but some just might

                         Preface

Well James made Beth his lovely bride

(And angels smiled, though teary eyed)

...their bodies bound, their spirits tied

.........their bodies bound, their spirits tied

Upon her hand, a shimmer shone,

As bright as blood, a ruby Stone 

...and brighter still, as love had grown

.........and brighter still, as love had grown

Soon James was sent to man a sail

So Beth removed her wedding veil

...her eyes were moist, her face was pale 

.........her eyes were moist, her face was pale

“Well, I’ll be here when you return”

Said Beth to James, who kissed in turn

...a kiss that made her body burn

.........a kiss that made her body burn

                         BETH’S TALE

1.              The Dream

One night, within a dream deformed,

The cawing of a Crow informed

“...the Ship was struck where winter stormed

.........the Ship was struck where winter stormed

Midst winds and waves the thunder boomed

The Ship of Death was surely doomed

...the sea engulfed, the surf entombed

.........the sea engulfed, the surf entombed

Your James… deceived by Davy Jones! 

With spirit freed, his flesh and bones

...now rest amongst the ashen Stones

.........now rest amongst the ashen Stones” 

2.               The Quest

Awoken by the ebon Wight

And beckoned by the baneful bight

...I left before the morning light

.........I left before the morning light

Throughout the realm I rode a roan

Until, in time, I reached the Stone

...where shades in dreams of darkness groan 

.........where shades in dreams of darkness groan 

While skipping up and down the sky

A missing moonbeam mocked my eye

...enough to make a Swallow cry

.........enough to make a Swallow cry

For someone stole a star or two

And something else that fate withdrew -

 ...my jewel of joy, my James Bijou   

.........my jewel of joy, my James Bijou

The shadows of the evening swelled

Where demons of the dusk had dwelled

...and in the far, a vesper knelled

.........and in the far, a vesper knelled

The Stone, beneath the sky, stood cold -

Between the runes, a vapour strolled

...a cloak of fleecy fog consoled

.........a cloak of fleecy fog consoled

A Raven on a branch, enthroned,

Her wings waved once, a wail intoned

...beyond the bay, a banshee moaned

.........beyond the bay, a banshee moaned

I lay beside the Stone, his bride

I lay beside the Stone and cried

...but were it I, instead, that died

.........but were it I, instead, that died

The rainbow of the moon fell dim

A midnight Swan soon ceased to swim

...as if to hide all hint of him

.........as if to hide all hint of him

Between the willows in the swale

Bewailed a Bird, a Nightingale

...which left me faint, my body frail

.........which left me faint, my body frail

3.              Contact

I felt him breathe within a breeze  

Responding to my anguished pleas

...and leaves blew by abandoned trees

.........and leaves blew by abandoned trees

“Eternal love, my darling Beth” 

Enshrined within a final breath 

...re-echoed from the Ship of Death

.........re-echoed from the Ship of Death 

The Stone lit up a ruby sheen

And clouds were kindled crystalline

...with consequences, unforeseen

.........with consequences, unforeseen

Above, a wretched Raven soared

To where the Ship of Death’d been moored

...below, the icy ocean roared

.........below, the icy ocean roared

4.               Release

I’m joined with James beneath the Stone,

Though to the Ship my spirit’s flown,

...for nevermore to be alone

.........for nevermore to be alone

                         Epilogue

That night the wayward winds were weird 

The Ship of Death had disappeared

...coyotes called and mortals feared

.........coyotes called and mortals feared

At dusk, the craven shadows crawled

At dawn, the winds of mourning called

...upon the Stone two names were scrawled

.........upon the Stone two names were scrawled

The Raven sits, with wings outspread,

Atop the Stone which shades the dead

...it sometimes shimmers ruby red

.........it sometimes shimmers ruby red

                         Epitaph

Between the sounds, where silence seeps,

Their love lives on and never sleeps

...and yet, the weeping willow weeps

.........and yet, the weeping willow weeps