Kandar-A night time story for a 9 year old

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David2
Member

since 2000-03-22

Posts 407

0 posted 2000-04-23 05:31 PM

Kandar

The summer sun had softly set,
That night so long ago.
The moon reflected golden rays,
That lit the earth below.

A young lad slept and dreamt that night,
Of journeys just ahead.
He anxiously awaited dawn,
With just a touch of dread.

With morning’s light he rapidly,
Prepared a meager meal.
Imagining the wonders that,
His future might reveal.

His belly full, he left his home,
And hurried eagerly,
To make his way aboard the ship,
T’would carry him to sea.

His job, to serve as cabin boy,
And ride the emerald waves.
To cater to the every need,
of scoundrels, cads, and knaves.

It mattered not to him you see,
His lot aboard the ship,
He felt, in fact, footloose and free,
And yearned to start the trip.

The vessel set a southern course,
With full and billowed sails,
And fairly glided cross the sea,
In search of hump-backed whales.

For months they sailed in tranquil calm,
A voyage of luxury,
A sea of glassy liquid miles,
That stretched on endlessly.

Then on one hot and humid day,
The cry each seaman knows,
The crow’s nest thundered with the words,
“Ahoy now, thar she blows!”

And then a herd of monstrous beasts,
Magnificent in scope,
Their untold fortune lie ahead,
The source of seamen’s hope.

Our hero sat in silent awe,
Of sights before unseen,
In rapt anticipation of,
The knowledge he could glean.

This fateful day he found out fast,
That all he’d chance to learn,
Was that he’d signed aboard a ship,
Not destined to return.

The trouble was a motley group,
Ill fated for their task.
Their sole concern was getting fed,
And filling up their flask.

The lack of skill among the crew,
Was quickly evident,
For their attempt to man the ship,
Defied all precedent.

They steered the mighty whaling ship,
Into the giants’ path,
Behemoths fierce and poised and sure,
To exercise their wrath.

With brutal force they broke the ship,
And splintered it to shreds,
Into the sea and floundering,
The men were left for dead.

The brave young lad was left to test,
The mercy of the sea,
And came to rest upon a plank,
To float there aimlessly.

Surviving this against all odds,
His senses quite abused,
He found himself upon a shore,
His battered body bruised.

Still weakened by this great ordeal,
He lay confused and dazed,
So thankful for deliverance,
The saints he blessed and praised.

At first he didn’t realize,
He wasn’t quite alone,
But natives all around him spoke,
In hushed and whispered tones.

So tall and lean and beautiful,
Their skin a darkened brown,
Covered with but strips of skins,
Their hair as soft as down.

Unnerved by what before him stood,
A shiver found his spine.
With urgency he searched each face,
For any peaceful sign.

He understood no sounds they made,
Their manner though was clear,
And as they bowed before his feet,
He quickly lost all fear.

“How odd,” he thought to watch them lay,
As if to worship him.
“ I must be seeing things, I think.”,
“My mind is still quite dim,”.

But then he sensed a quiet chant,
And recognized a word,
For as he listened carefully,
Kandar, was what he heard.

Kandar! Kandar! Repeatedly,
Their chanting did increase.
And when he knew they spoke to him,
He found a tender peace.

With gentle ease he neared their side,
With confidence just found.
But weakening he found himself,
Collapsing on the ground.

They bore him to a hut of thatch,
And bound his wounds with care.
They nursed him through recovery,
And gave him robes to wear.

These robes he wore were meant to grace,
The shoulders of a king,
Bewildered by these strange events,
He pondered all these things.

As gradually his strength returned,
His need for answers swelled.
He had to find the secret to,
This island where he dwelled.

These natives seemed to act as though,
His presence there was planned.
They treated him with reverence,
Obeying his commands.

His legs grew strong and hale again,
When to his great surprise,
The natives bade him follow them,
Imploring with their eyes.

Their ardent jungle journey weaved,
Through foliage thick and lush.
Determined but at ease and yet,
Without the need to rush.

And then a clearing loomed ahead,
Their destination found,
The jungle graciously gave way,
Displaying hallowed ground.

Within this sacred, holy place,
An ancient totem stood.
And shocked beyond belief he saw,
His face carved there in wood.

Kandar! Again in gentle tones,
And then repeatedly
They kowtowed to their living god,
Delivered from the sea.

He knew now that the chant Kandar,
Meant more than just a name.
As once again he saw his face,
And felt a touch of shame

He stood in silence quite confused,
Embarrassed at this state,
With no recourse, save that he stay,
He reconciled his fate.

He knew he had a choice to make,
But options there were few.
He chose to make the best of things,
And do what he must do.

He set about the daunting task,
Of learning all their ways,
Their speech, their rituals, their rites,
Absorbed through endless days.

Beneath the stars, beside a fire,
He heard their history,
Generations blessed with peace,
And rich prosperity.

T’was here he heard the somber tale,
From natives young and old,
Of future desolation due,
As prophecies foretold.

One day, though no one knew just when,
As solemn laws command,
They’d face destruction sure and fast,
At their destroyer’s hand.

His form unknown to every sage
and seer within the tribe,
They only knew his power immense,
Detailed by every scribe.

When that day came, they’d find themselves
Awash in victory,
For Kandar would defeat the beast,
With swift finality.

The stillness of the summer air,
Was soon to be corrupt.
For as their story reached its end,
They felt the earth erupt.

Issued forth from earth’s dark bowel’s,
A creature winged and fierce,
With talons honed and razor sharp
And scales no sword could pierce.

He belched great streams of searing flame,
That charred whate’er it found.
The natives fled in utter fear,
Our hero stood his ground.

He grabbed a spear-like piece of wood,
That smoldered in the fire,
He braced himself for what must come,
His nerves as taut as wire.

And as the beast then swooped his way,
To take him as a meal,
He hitched a ride upon its claw,
And chortled in his zeal.

The crusty scales were thick and rough,
And easy to ascend.
He made his way behind its head,
And planned its bitter end.

And on its neck he found the spot,
Somehow he knew the place.
Beneath a scale he plunged his spear,
A grimace on his face.

The wailing of the wounded beast,
Was deafening and shrill,
It hurtled toward the open sea,
Propelled by but its will.

And as the flying reptile dove,
The ocean opened wide.
And as it crashed into its depths,
The mighty monster died.

In unison the natives rushed,
Into the raging wave,
Determined then to find the one,
Who’d shown a heart so brave.

They found him stunned but yet unharmed,
And helped him to the shore,
Exalting this heroic deed,
Forever etched in lore.

The ocean then gave up its dead,
Relinquishing the beast,
They burned it on a raging pyre,
And on its flesh did feast.

Now that’s the tale that’s long been told,
To marvel and entice,
About a boy who justly rules,
An island paradise.

He reigns there still, or so they say,
In songs that sailors sing.
Upon a throne of sun bleached bones,
Kandar the dragon King.

Mike
Member Elite

since 1999-06-19

Posts 2462

1 posted 2000-04-23 05:54 PM

Splendid read. A real talent for story poems you possess. Hail to Kandar.

Pepper
Member Elite

since 1999-08-19

Posts 3079
Southern Florida

2 posted 2000-04-23 06:00 PM

Captivaing from beginning to end !
Wonderful! Wonderful!
I enjoyed this so much, David2 ... it is now in my Poetic Best file; I also emailed a copy to my 9 year old grandson ...

"This is where you will win the battle .... in the playhouse of your mind."
Maxwell Maltz

hsystems
Member

since 2000-03-28

Posts 319
Murray, UT, USA

3 posted 2000-04-23 06:07 PM

Excellent work, David! This is a delightful epic, masterfully told. You never cease to amaze me, my friend!

Troy

Beautiful, Thought-Provoking Poetry
http://www.h-systems.net/p1.htm

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

4 posted 2000-04-23 06:08 PM

Excellent storytelling, David....

Jeffrey Carter

Member Elite

since 2000-04-08

Posts 2367
State of constant confusion!

5 posted 2000-04-23 06:23 PM

I was hooked from the very beginning to the very end. Absolutely beautiful story telling

Jeffrey

Denise

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-08-22

Posts 22648

6 posted 2000-04-23 10:44 PM

Wow! This was captivating, David! Fabulous tale!

Denise

Butterflies_dont_cry
Member Elite

since 2000-03-06

Posts 3733
Michigan

7 posted 2000-04-23 11:42 PM

Excellent!! This shall be added to tomorrow's bedtime reading list!! Thank you for sharing!!

Hold me for yesterday
Kiss me for tomorrow
But love me for today.

netswan
Senior Member

since 2000-03-28

Posts 1369
Washington

8 posted 2000-04-24 12:15 PM

David this should be published!
Or at least in an E-book with
some illustrations -- JUST Splendid!

I really enjoyed this and it is just
a fabulous exceptional piece of work.

I bow to you - KANDAR

netswan

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

9 posted 2000-04-24 06:18 PM

Fabulous tale, David, like also that your rhymes are so subtle.

Corinne

Jeffrey Carter

Member Elite

since 2000-04-08

Posts 2367
State of constant confusion!

10 posted 2000-04-24 08:56 PM

This is too good to let drop to the bottom so BTTP

Jeffrey

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