| The Seafarer, original
In his home the captain kneeled,
his eyes deep as the deepest sea,
to King of Sea and River Wife
safe voyage for to plea.
As so the gods upon him looked,
a seed was planted in his mind.
his spirit rose, his heart grew keen,
all doubts were left behind.
Tall as the tallest mast he stood,
curled like waves his golden hair.
And now he knew that he would cross
the ocean wide and fair.
Seafarer was he called for good,
a child of water, wind and star.
In love with sea and sky he was,
and with the shores afar.
Unlike the nature of his kin,
towards the sea his heart had turned.
Not for the moon, not for the stars,
for distant coasts he yearned.
A call to shipwrights he sent forth,
if not a vessel they could craft,
a ship as never seen before
by Elf and Man and Dwarf.
A ship to sail the ocean far,
with strong a hull and many oars
to carry him through storm and calm
to undiscovered shores.
His heart content and full of hope
to sail where none had sailed before,
he spread the word and soon the news
came back from near and far:
'Such ship you seek has not been built
since long forgotten days of yore',
spoke many brave an artisan,
'and will be nevermore'.
Atop a cliff the captain stood,
the sea below was rough and grey.
'So end all dreams; there is no ship
to take me through this day.'
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The Seafarer, expanded
In his home the Captain kneeled,
His eyes as deep as the deepest sea,
To the King of Seas and His River Wife
For safe voyage he made his plea.
The Powers smiled to see him so.
A seed was planted in his mind:
His spirit rose; his heart grew keen;
All his doubts were left behind.
Proud as the tallest mast he stood,
Like waves curled his golden hair,
For now he knew that he would cross
Lord Galor's ocean wide and fair.
Seafarer was he called, and for good reason,
A child of water, wind and star.
In love with sea and sky he was,
And with the shores unseen afar.
Unlike the nature of his kin,
Towards the waves his heart had turned.
Not for the moon, nor for the stars,
But for distant coasts he yearned.
A challenge to shipwrights sent he forth,
Whether a vessel they could craft,
A ship as never seen before
By Elf and Man and Dwarf.
A ship to sail the ocean far,
With a mighty hull and many oars
To carry him through storm and calm,
Through fog and rain, to undiscovered shores.
His heart content and full of hope
To sail where none had sailed before,
He spread the word and soon the news
Came back from near and far:
'The ship you seek has not been built
Since long forgotten days of yore',
Spoke many a brave artisan,
'And will be nevermore'.
Atop a cliff the captain stood,
The sea below all rough and grey.
'So end all dreams; there is no ship
To take me through this day.'
The surf beneath him roared and rushed
Once more still Seafarer fell.
'Will Galor's own be so denied,
Or dare the flood whatever befall?'
'Shall a son of Galor, Lord of Waves,
Turn so simply and so cravenly aside?
Dare the waves, you favored of the Deep,
Build craft and cross wave to shrouded tides!'
A second voice, more still than the first,
'Do not snuff out your life, Seeker of Rivers;
You cannot serve us so. The sky is grey,
The waves in tumult, the sun a paltry sliver;'
'But hope remains.' A third voice, quieter yet:
'Do not lose hope, for the Powers are faithful.'
All three spoke and then appeared. Three voices,
Each attuned to each, but each unique.
A mighty form, tall and full of glory;
A burning fire of white and silver-blue;
A dove of mists with eyes of purest light.
'Bow not to us. That you must not do.'
The Seafarer had dropped to his knees before them.
'We are not the Mighty. Rise, Seafarer,
But remove your boots, for the place is holy.'
He rose as commanded and removed his boots.
'I have no ship, Mighty Ones. What then shall I do?
A great rover of the waves and I, but no shipwright.'
Neither Syul nor Khuzdun can craft a hull to cross the grey.'
'Fear not. Help comes. All your kin are not lost to pride.'
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