The Mysterious Gift the Old Sailor Built

or The Mysterious Lost Love Quest The old man dusted himself off and quickly started on his merry way this his last port was where his desperate soul sought to forever stay Decades of sailing ships from far flung distant foreign shore to shore now to settle down, live happily the wealthy large life he always swore This London town was so very large and busy , seemed just so right no more dueling spirits , common sense had won the mighty, bitter fight A huge bag of gems he had hidden in his weathered and trusty old sea bag great massive and fabulous wealth of which he dare to never ever brag Tomorrow he would soon seek out his trusted old London banking friend buy that great huge mansion , so very much money he had to now spend! Years had flown buy and his name and fame had so very greatly grown so had the dark rumors, gossip of his wealth and all that he owned He laughed heartedly as the overly outlandish , mysterious tall tales was he a mercenary, a murdering pirate or lost son of the Prince of Wales Had he not just bought a fleet of the fastest ocean going merchant ships hustling back so very many costly wonders in dozens of daring trips Now his very bold plan was just about to bear it's much sought after fruits a legend he would birth and forever establish his name , fame and roots! In secret he alone would assemble this very massive, awe inspiring gift to better serve this great city, the nation, the world, and to so uplift Much more time was all he was praying for and ever going to now need such fame was sure to come for accomplishing this truly fantastic deed Months turned into years as he worked intensely, franticly night and day never allowing too much rest, sleep or pleasure to ever impede his way So very close was the great journey coming to it's blessed, joyous end soon, so very soon, the world would welcome this magnificent Godsend! At last, Eureka! the massive undertaking is finished, so very well done all sweat , pain , great costs aside he had now finally, finally won! Never again would people look down or insultingly call out his name the nation , the world, all mankind would declare his great fame! Life would finally mean something and his long lost love would now See! she had chosen the wrong man and now together they could finally be Early next morn he flung open the massive double wide solid oak doors revealing genius, the gift that all the world would now so richly adore! Just then the moment became far too much for him to ever withstand the success, the great crusade, the magnificence of his winning plan First the dizziness and dull roar blasted deeply into his aching head calamity struck so quickly , he fell knocking over the lamp instead Flames now raced around his body lying face down and so very small nobody saw the gift he had moved heaven and earth to secretly install All burned to ashes, the success that his "lost love" was never to see! such love, force of will came to naught, that's how wicked Fate can be! A tale that a grizzly old sailor drunk on whiskey once dared to tell me finished with the declaration that only He knew what that gift be! For many hours I bought my new friend drink after drink to cleverly find the secret , the secret he guarded so well and held deep in his mind As the tavern was about to close he leaned over to whisper softly to me mysteries abound, life is hard and devils hide in the deep blue sea Hardly a day goes by that I don't remember his last words and smile life is a loud roar on a mighty wave , so ride it in good cheer and style! Robert Lindley, 06-06-2014