1312 - The Biggest Adventure

 

The Sunday Whirl presents twelve words for us to use in a creative writing piece.  

This weeks (very awkward) words are:

Strategy, enemy, thieves, red, dragon, air, hint, water, rock, nest, face, channel

The Biggest Adventure

We travel not for trafficking alone: 

By hotter winds our fiery hearts are fanned: 

For lust of knowing what should not be known 

We take the golden road to Samarkand.

- James Elroy Flecker

The Punter

I’m planning a trip to who knows where,

To kingdoms across the sands.

Where the food is rich and the women fair,

Where philosophers learn and understand.

Who will join me on this escapade?

Who will come to see what there is to see?

Life is too often a great charade,

Pack your bags and come with me!

A Man in the Crowd

How do we know that we won’t be killed?

The hills are full of brigands and thieves.

You hint of excitement, but I’d not be thrilled

To die in the desert while my woman grieves.

The Man’s Wife

Yes, how do I know that my man would return

And not be buried beneath a pile of rocks

On the plain where water’s scarce and air can burn.

At least here, if he dies, he gets a box.

The Punter

Surely you don’t guess that I want to die?

Your fears understandable, are unfounded.

‘There are no demons or dragon’s nests’ is my reply,

The trip’s well planned, the strategy’s grounded.

A Young Man

So what’s the point of this expedition?

Where do you go and what’s there for us?

The Punter

Life in a rut is a most deadly condition

Escaping from boredom is a definite plus.

The world is an exciting place, so come explore,

Who knows what delights are there, to see

To face, to marvel on some foreign shore?

Don’t rust your life away, come! Come with me!

Another Young Man

I take the point you so forcibly make,

Habit is the enemy of an interesting life.

We’ll all die sometime for heaven’s sake,

Who knows, perhaps I’ll find an exotic wife!

The Punter

Fine words, well said.  Welcome to our band!

Who else will channel their courageous bent,

To see red sunsets in some foreign land?

To sleep beneath the stars in a communal tent? 

A Third Young Man

I’ll throw my hat.  What will my parents say?

This is a chance to explore foreign lands

And I’m going to die some day anyway,

So why not trust in kind fortune’s hands?

The Punter

It is well.  We will make a fine team

As we venture forth into the unknown.

Most will just stay here and sadly dream

We brave few head off; the dice is thrown.

Epilogue

Out in the desert, where no-one goes,

Where all is bleak, just sand and stones,

And the wind moves the sand in rippled rows,

You’ll find a pile of sun bleached bones.

◊

Print this post