Part 10

As silence came once more to claim

The gloomy Ballad Inn,

We gulped the air still looking where

The Mariner had been.

 

‘I think ’tis time I take my leave,’

The cat began to say,

‘Farewell, my friends, my bird awaits,’

And then he went away.

 

‘Indeed. Orion has a point,’

Said Colin clammily,

‘Farewell, I must return to Tohr

And to my family.’

 

‘The ocean calls its naval mates,’

Said Captain Silereen,

‘And so farewell, my crew awaits

Aboard the fair Irene.’

 

‘I, too, must go, or else be late

Returning where my duty lies,

And then obtain a worsened state

Like deafened ears or blinded eyes.’

 

‘And back in Hamar our family waits,

And we don’t want to put them in worrying states.’

‘But, friends, it was great to have spent time together,

I hope that this friendship shall go on forever.’

‘But now it is time, to Hamar we must go-’

‘And tell our old Wise Man the truths that we know.’

‘And so, friends, farewell, ’til we all meet again,

And may you be blessed by good King Saldomain.’

 

Some coins they laid to show they paid,

Then, giving one last grin,

They crossed the floor towards the door,

And left the Ballad Inn.

 

The minutes flew, the clock struck two,

And still we stayed behind

Completely awed to know that God

And Fate control Mankind.

 

Then came a light so white and bright

From where the gloom turned black.

We froze and got the awful thought

The Mariner was back.

 

But as we turned we both discerned

Three ghosts within the inn,

Each with a smile that shone a mile,

Which prompted us to grin.

 

One could imply that Trent and I

Were mad, unstable, ill.

But we were sure for there they were:

The bee, the hound, and Hill.

-EDP