The Lay of Mount Petite Jean

Canto XI: The Vote.

Read in Landscape

With vessel saved to work they went
That quick across the waves they're sent
To foreign land so rich with gold
Performing well in service bold.

And none did greater strive than maid
Who worked in hopes her love she'd save
From all who dared to hurt or try
The man that maiden sought to guide

On safest paths to world that's new
A cause for which she joined the crew
As cabin boy in deep disguise
So maid her face and name may hide.

For many moons they still did sail
Now braving waves and often gales,
And pirates never came again
Nor ever ship did try to rend

Away from crew instead they wait
Not tempted well to try their fate.
But still some swore they'd saw a ship
With blackened sails as tides did rip.

Yet many said that fear had stained
The eyes of men who made these claims.
So back to work they always turned,
And warning found yet most had spurned.

For many months they labor long,
And worked their arms till coarse and strong.
Now striving hard repairing ship
As captain healed the wounds, he's strick.

And both to former glory came
As health of old the pair did claim.
So journey seems to go now well
Aboard the ship where sailors dwell.

But grumbling grows in midst of sailing men
Possessing driving thirst in heart to sin.
For long they worked in blazing sun so bright,
And hearts of some did start in place of spite

Resenting orders done that prince commands
How all were bid to follow noble's plan.
And Diable knowing well unseemly fact
Does take his chance and quick their souls attacks.

To helm he goes above the rest of crew
As mass below him slowly sprawling grew.
To hear the words they longed to count as wise
Though knowing well their plans the Lord despised.

"Long and hard the trip has been
Great the waves along with strife
Rest we need to help and mend
Song and dance will grant us life!

Off to port an Island lies
Filled with pleasure great and fair
Labor long your heart derides
Join for night surrender care.

Greater rest by crew is needed
Better work be after done
Let my words be quickly heeded
Have yourselves some well-earned fun."

The masses hasten quick to sailor's words
By thirst for lusty things their hearts are spurred.
So many men begin and give a cheer
A sight that Adriene sure and greatly feared.

For maid had leery grown of Diable's ways
How often man some little mischief made,
And seldom ever lent himself to cause
Of sailing ship though labors whole of clause

He made when taking gold that royals lent,
And sure at some unseemly thing had spent.
But still the man a strange allure owns
A fact he used when lust of men he honed,

And stoked their hearts to any way he wills
With cunning words their minds he often filled
With strangest thoughts besieging things they knew
So far from all they hold as right and true.

And fearing great yet 'nother willful ploy
That Diable often wove with skills so coy
The maiden spoke and tried to reign the men
Before they gave themselves to greatest sin.

"What rest does sluggard need from work he shuns
You've failed to orders heed for length of run,
And never worked to fullest might required
Yet even during times when straights were dire.

This useless man a trick on rest does play
For during working hours he often laid
While rest of men did strive and ship then tended
And helped to aid, when vessel hurt we mended.