The Lay of Mount Petite Jean

Canto XXIII: The Revelation.

Read in Landscape.

Finally all of the men had been freed
Saved by the peasant and bravest of deeds.
Wrought by the woman when maiden had strived
Bringing the braves to the ship where they lied.
Killing their captor and raising the men
Up from the hull where the pris'ners where send.

Bringing them out from the darkness they're bound
Out into forest where light was yet found.
Bright was the sun that now glared in their face
Still they were glad at beholding its grace.
Happy no longer in prison they laid
Freed from the tyranny of Diable's own way.

Osage had slain what was rest of his men
Laid they on ground with bitterest end.
Lost in their sin when the sailors did pass
Out to the darkness their souls had been cast...
Quick for the sailors she sorrow did show
Seeking instead for the men that in hold

Long had yet dwelled not in comfort or peace
Lending her strength so that hurt may yet ease.
Quickly to chieftain the maiden now strode
Hoping that aid he would further bestow.
Asking him heal them of wounds that were wrought
Back when for ship with pirates they fought.

"My men are hurt and gravely ill from cells
On deep in ship where crew was forced to dwell.
I ask that chief would lend to men his aid
So health of all my friends is quick remade."

Hearing the maiden the chieftain did nod
Over to medicine men he did trod.
Pointing at sailors so weak and so worn
Bearing their bodies that pirates had torn.
Nodding to side of the sailor they come
Hasty to aid them the healers did run. 

Slowly they lined with the medicine men
Over to doctors the sailors were send.
Ambling from wounds and the hurt they were gave
Down in the brig that did feel like a grave.
Still now they ache to the healers they go
Hoping for respite from all of their woe.

Medicine men then measured their hurt
Judging their wounds, they began at their work.
Sailors are treated for injuries born
Wrought when the traitor their peace had yet torn.
Shackling their fellows in depths of the hull
Down where the darkness does ever yet lull.

Hurt by the fight but not treated by foe
Bound in a prison so full of their woe.
Slowly their pains did yet grow in those cells
Down where the men had been forced to then dwell.
Wounds were infected by dankness in deep
Bound in what's great and a dreadfellest keep.

Blisters had formed where their cuffs had been chained
Rubbed in their wrist with the greatest of pains.
Little the scraps they were given from deck
Long though the pirates had feasted on wreck.
Wasting away till the maiden had came
Fast so that all of their lives she would claim.

Ointments were plied and bandages made
Help to the sailors were now given by braves.
Food was then gathered presented to men
Hoping that effort would help them to mend.
Long they did rest from the trial they gained
Deep in that prison ensnared by their chains.

Except for the maiden who wound did now heal
Hoping to keep from them pain she did feel.
Fearing that truth of her person revealed
Surely a blow to her cause would now deal.
Binding it slowly she hid it away
Hoping that hurt would in secret yet lay.

Keeping it quiet and hiding her need.
Knowing not trouble that's brought by this deed...

...

Ship was now ruined by the war that was waged
Fought when the men with the pirates had raged.
Broken by cannon when first they had crashed
Coupled with muskets that pirates had blast.
Slowly as health is restored they do work
Healing what damage they could in their hurt.

Braves did now help them replenish their holds
Sacked by the pirates in action so bold.
Slowly the damage to ship is repaired
Wrought by the hands of the sailors with care.
Shoulder of captain does also now heal
Wound he was dealt then now started to seal.