Las Crónicas (The Chronicles of Captain Verne)

Part I-4 - "The Risk they took"

Intro: The peasants were disheartened by the way they're treated by the guards. Their own king can't assure them a relieve. The drought left their lives massacred, with only hope to survive - the New World. It was all risky, threatening.... And no money was left..... What awaits for them?

"New World!" wonderstruck the thought,
"It's a nice idea you brought!";
Even a tender leaf can save the drowner,
This notion can eliminate any danger.

Thus set a team, of persons sixteen,
Upheld courage, and earnest dream;
Far from this meagre country they'd sail,
To make fortunes - the generations prevail.

The money that they were left,
Risked them all on the cleft;
On Emiño, Tuesday the sixth they left,
On its first course the men had set.

"New World, we're coming for you!"
"Captain Nicolás, it's the trade winds that flew!"
"Everything we've arranged in the dock,
Waiting to sail, for the tick of the clock!"

They set off, from far away from Santander port,
In a weather that was foggy and cold;
Calm before you the great sea seemed,
Brought some gentle blows these winds.

Sudden harsh gale made the seawater dance,
By a thunderstorm came from the port of France,
Densed by Friday night, skies dark grew,
Strengthened by the captain, was the famous crew.

"Come thunders! bow down at my feet,
And rain down at your full speed!"
"We are not afraid of elements of God's,
See almighty, we got the power of horse!"

Ho, wise men! never show bravery before nature,
Who has created you, and all living creature;
Such valour is no less than pride,
That brings your fall behind your sight.

Unnoticed, unmistaken came the stranger,
Water seeped in like a stranger,
Slowly the sail started to sink,
And the ship, went on to drink.

"What's wrong? I ask you to say!"
"Captain! A leakage in the dock and they bay!"
"Shlerded moons! What a news you brought!
What'll happen, had you thought!"

"Calm down Captain, see some way,
I see near no sign of bay;
A few hours is left from now,
Do something, find a way out!"

Thunders crackled, and fell from the sky,
Rains flowed, and trembled the waves might;
God warned them - not to be brave,
Now pray, and please try for a save.

Forget all prayers, it's your life ahead -
Begging from God, don't you feel ashamed?
How whimsical were you, and so of kindred hearts,
Overcome this freight soldiers! Ahead you are threatening wars.

The middle of terror they were in,
And they saw the sea's large being;
Half drowned Emiño by then got,
Streaks and freaks it had brought.

"Everyone! Please stop this quarrel,
And now quickly take a barrel!"
"Hold your nerves, and jump to the sea,
Feel the power of the waves mighty."

Praise our captain, praise his mind's action,
That saved your life at the right second's fraction;
Tears fall down, the lone ship goes away,
All alone they're left, in a dwindling sway.

Not only your heroic is punished by the Earth,
Still you pay mightier than you worth;
Be graceful that you're spared with life,
Of yours, children, brother and wife.

Paced the waters in front of your eyes,
You see a whirlpool large, and hear its sorrow cries;
Rushed back, and you're thrown away by water,
Left over debris, around you are scatter.

You open your eyes and believe in this nightmare,
But soon become pleased for your family's welfare;
Siento Amigo... for this sudden tragedy,
Who can give at sea some remedy?

Calm before you these waters appeared,
But it let your lives go spared;
Soon no longer, no mightier the violence calmed,
This makes you relieved, you're no more harmed.

Lost in the sea they, under the skies grey,
"Nosotros de Dondé? And where is the way?"
"Is this the vast Atlantic, or the great Mediterranean?
Or we on the wrong way, to the Caspian?"

Sun shone bright right above the head,
And so much of fear and sweat it shed;
Days came in, and soon went out,
Time passed by, but never gave a shout.

Mother hugged her son, and made a cross,
And lo! They saw here a flying albatross!
"It's Land! We're saved!" cried your dear ones,
Tears of happiness came in big tonnes.

See the divine power, who punished you a bit,
For the thought you possessed of cocky and greed;
It made you bow down at His feet at once,
Still you're blessed with life, with a second chance.

And Captain Nicolás with this crew,
Set foot on the New World through;
Before them with little stocks sustained,
Unexplored the whole continent remained.

Thus the final words on his account read,
Of voyage 'cross the Atlantic led;
Curious we are to know the rest,
Of his story, of his memoir conquest.

Perdón por lo que sentiste, as a sailor like them,
His folklores of journey to an end had came;
It's my turn now, to do something historical,
Remind, adventure isn't so fundamental.

Footnotes:

Elements of God's: The creation of God

Emiño: name of the ship

Siento Amigo: Sorry my friend

Nosotros de Dondé?: Where are we?

Caspian: Caspian sea

Albatross: a seabird (with reference to Coleridge's "The Rime of Ancient Mariner")

Perdón por lo que sentiste: Sorry for what you felt (Spanish proverb)

Upcoming: Hail Nicolás! His timely action saved our heroes! And so, Nicolas' accounts ends with landing to the New World...what happened thereafter? Did they survived? How would it lead to A New Home? Stay tuned and comment fellas!