The Forlorn
By Lee Hyori
Title Page
Black Sails cut 'cross moonlit waves, silent as a ghost.
Old Cap’n Graybeard squinted at a map belowdecks.
A trove lay yonder, past devil’s waters an’ deathly straits, the map did hiss
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That there treasure, ye see, be guarded by a beast what grants wishes—aye
Cast yer eyes this way, me hearties!
Our ticket outta this cursed life o’ penniless scummin’, it be!
Onward we sail, into peril and promise alike, mates!
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The old Black Sail ran headlong into the fiercest squall e’er stirred by Neptune’s wrath.
The map did foretell an isle o’ jagged stone, cruel an’ silent in the swell.
An sure as the stars steer true, there she lay on the horizon— cloaked in mist, jagged as a siren’s tooth.
The crew pulled oars through thrashin’ seas, unto that jagged rock like souls seeking salvation.
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An once again, just as the map foretold, there loomed the maw of a sea cavern
Silently they slipped through crimson waters
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An once more the map spoke true—there it lay, a cavern o’ glistenin’ crystals, gleamin’ like a dragon’s hoard
Deep in that cursed cave...
...lay a heap o’ glistenin’ gold and jewels, stacked high like a king’s ransom.
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Drink’s on the stars tonight!
But the map held one last devil’s grin
The merriment lasted but a heartbeat, snuffed swift as a lantern in a gale
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By the brine-soaked beard o’ the Almighty
what in all the gods’ green seas be that??
The tales be true, little meat-things.
One wish I grant—to the bold who turn their backs on gold. Choose...or be claimed.
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“Yer wish... be my command...but know this — every gift bears weight, an’ every tide takes somethin’ back
So... which shall it be?
We take the wish, not the gold.
An just like that, with nary a sound nor shimmer, the gold and jewels vanished—swallowed by the air like mist at dawn, leavin’ naught but cold stone an’ wonderin’ hearts.
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Run, ye dogs! Let’s be gone from this accursed place!
The island sank, quiet as death, behind the rowboat.
The crew climbed back aboard the Black Sail, salt-soaked and soul-spent.
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Only to find her hold brimmin’ with gold an’ jewels
Tastes sweet, boys—sweeter than rum an’ twice as deadly!
We're richer than the devil's banker!
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Off into the sunset we sail, me hearties—fat with fortune, ghosts at our back, and the wind at our stern!
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