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Satan's Ark-A Sestina

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This is the song of a man who had a hundred souls in his pocket

He can get no sleep, he can get no rest and he can get no peace

The rope is tight like a well-tuned cord. Alas but who's to walk it?

As Sun dawns on the docks, He dawns on the Harbor of injustice!

The bugle has blown! The man and his one hundred souls embark.

But a thousand despondent souls’ death-boat, ain't no Noah's ark.

 

 

A floating sarcophagus in disguise. Clad in the skin of a godly ark

Dip-dip your hands deep-deep! Dip deep in your hole-ridden pocket!

Oh after you I insist! Hope has docked! All you lucky souls embark!

A silver piece, The Golden Fleece! Ithaca, land of solace and peace!

Don't mind the plank! It’s an ornament! Nobody ever has to walk it!

Owards to Canaan! Where milk and honey well instead of injustice!

 

 

The irony blazes the liar’s tongue! Every time he speaks of injustice,

For a million souls’ blood, sweat and tears, couldn't buy Noah's ark

The man laid his yellow-brick path of rust and now he has to walk it.

Thirty blood stained silver pieces, burn a hole in the traitor’s pocket

The ship has sailed on a hundred souls and on the coward’s peace-

-of mind. He counts the dead in his head as a hundred souls embark.

 

 

Up it goes and down it goes! On the boat of perdition they did embark

One hundred souls muffle the voice, crying: "Be wary of the injustice."

This is a song of hyenas and men, of life and death, of war and peace.

Hades' ferry was temporary, the waves washed off the deceit of the ark.

Empty of one hundred souls, the man’s dirty hands feel his fat pocket

Land ho! Your plank is set! All you fooled souls now prepare to walk it!

 

For the road to salvation was just too long. To die would be to walk it.

And yet a hundred souls fought hard today. Tooth and claw to embark”

Out of grandma’s mattress and straigh into the slaver’s greasy pocket!

Oh people of the free world, hear this song. Hear this tale of injustice.

That one hundred souls stepped today onto old Satan's treacherous ark

Oh vain Ulysses, and you oh, tricked Jason. Farewell and rest in peace.

◄ Hades' Ferry- A Sea Shanty

Mother (Love In The Time Of Disapproval) ►

Comments

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Mae Foreman

Mon 5th Aug 2019 19:52

Thanks Heart! Did my very best with this one...tough it was! ?
Mae

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Heart of Lead

Mon 5th Aug 2019 19:28

So many stories expertly woven together! Love it!

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Mae Foreman

Sat 27th Jul 2019 20:33

Thank you Jason! It's one of my favorite lines! ?
X.x.
Mae

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Jason Bayliss

Sat 27th Jul 2019 15:25

Got to say Mae I'm with everybody else on this, I like the shanty version but I prefer this one, and, "Dip deep in your hole ridden pocket," is inspired.

J. x

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Mae Foreman

Wed 24th Jul 2019 10:05

Thank you so much Adam! It's a bit of a challenge but after your suggestion maybe I'll try to record it!
Thanks ?
Mae

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Adam Rabinowitz

Wed 24th Jul 2019 06:25

I got so drawn into this and would love to hear it. I'll go look on the audio. My favorite lines are:

A floating sarcophagus in disguise. Clad in the skin of a godly ark

Dip-dip your hands deep-deep! Dip deep in your hole-ridden pocket!

Oh after you I insist! Hope has docked! All you lucky souls embark!

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Mae Foreman

Mon 22nd Jul 2019 10:02

Thank you for taking the time Martin! The vote is unanimous! I too prefer this one. It's just that I always haventrouble with the rhythmic part, hence the yo-hos...
Thank you?
Mae

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Martin Elder

Mon 22nd Jul 2019 09:43

This is simply brilliant Mae. It delivers the whole scenario of what it wants to say so well. I definitely prefer this version.
Love it

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Mae Foreman

Sun 21st Jul 2019 21:30

Yeap, it's summer, and a very hot one at that! And I have a lot of time in my hands! Thank you dear Lisa! ?
Mae

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Lisa C Bassignani

Sun 21st Jul 2019 21:19

You've been quite busy Mae!
Bravo on both versions!!

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Mae Foreman

Sun 21st Jul 2019 21:13

Thank you for taking the time dear Branwell! I think I agree with you! Thank you ?
Mae

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branwell kent

Sun 21st Jul 2019 20:52

I think it's better without the yo-ho's, simpler and easier to read

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Mae Foreman

Sun 21st Jul 2019 20:03

That is the my Sestina stripped of the "yo-ho"s after a suggestion. Any thoughts?
Thanks all ?
Mae

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