Odyssey From Africa 14c

https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Africa-adventures-Phil-Salmon/dp/197392479X Chapter 14c Warriors of mighty stature Armed with blades of shining metal Fire-wrought bronze, a work of wonder, Walked beside a bright-robed figure Slight of build and short in stature Whitening hair around his temples Now the warriors introduced him As “King Ptolemy the Second” Piercing eyes alive with wisdom Held Han’s gaze for several moments “Welcome, fisherman and traveler, Welcome to our Island Kingdom!” Han then bowed before the monarch Speaking thanks for all the kindness Given unto all his family But King Ptolemy now checked him; “There’s no need to be so formal! We must turn to urgent business. First however – are you hungry? Please partake of these refreshments” Han now noticed that the monarch Had one most distinctive feature Half of his right arm was missing! Ending just below the elbow Later Kwona would discover Talking to the household servants That this injury had happened In his childhood as a princeling When a palace insurrection Had betrayed and killed his father Whom he raised his hand defending From the traitor’s wicked sword stroke “Why should we be indoors lunching In such sunny pleasant weather?” Said the king, who asked his servants That they take the table outside So they dined out in the sunshine Where a barbecue was burning Cooking steaks of goat and wildfowl. Jars of glass were now brought to them Filled with clear fermented liquor Golden and intoxicating That to drink was cool and pleasant It was called the “amber nectar” Han attempted to be cautious Drinking but a single vessel But the king’s benign persuasion Led to several further glasses Being merrily upended By both fisherman and monarch Then the king became more lively Turned and looked at Han intently “Let us talk about the ocean Of its storms, its tides and currents Of the clouds, the winds and weather And the hunting of the fish shoals “Where they hide in blue-green ocean Where to find the scuttling lobsters How the waxing and the waning Of the moon entrains the creatures “Of the sea and of the coastline In the rhythms of their movement And the times of their abundance When the crabs come to the rock pools “When trevally shoal at nighttime When the rocks encrust with shellfish When the yellowtail and snapper Gather in the tidal shallows