The above tapestry was woven by my good friend Shadel : )

Read in landscape.

The Invocation
My Lord I ask you bless my ink and quill,
And move my mortal hand by deific will
To help me tell this tale of lovers' doom
As love did drive your son to seek his tomb.

And bid imposing task with sovereign nod
That feeble work of man might honor God,
And let my tale reflect how Christ atoned
That seeing others love we learn your own.

Canto I: The Tempest
Crashing of thunder and blasting of gale
Wrought by the tempest that currently rails.
Waves that are taller than mountains are high
Rise from the oceans embracing the sky
Falling from heavens with clamorous crash
Adding to sound of the storm as they splash.

Deafening sailors who work in the night
Dousing their lanterns and stealing their sight.
Beating their bodies with gust and with thrash
Stinging their skin like the cruelest of lash.
Throwing them down to the floor of the ship
Laying them low as it jarred and then ripped.

Many were washed from the deck and did fall
Down to the water where Dutchman did call.
Waiting for end and final of days
Lost till their bid to then rise from their grave.
All who were left by a terror were grasped
Stoked by the lightning that randomly flashed.

Slowly they work till they're tired and worn
Badgered by tempest that still did yet bore.
Beaten and battered, wracked by the fight
Brought to the crew in the deepest of night.
Leaving them prone to the storm as it rails
Causing the bravest amongst them to fail.

Failing their task for the knowledge they lacked
Wrought by their sloth when the sailors had slacked
Heeding not captain nor orders he gave
Actions that surely have led them to grave.
Slowly their hope is now slinking from heart
Leaving them lost to the winds as it parts.

Knowing their fate is result of their sins
Fearing the price that's required at end.
Quickly they gather repenting their crimes
Hoping contrition would buy them more time.
Hunkering closely, to God they do pray
Asking that death that's at hand might be stayed.

Long did they wait for the heaven's reply
Seeing then only the storm in the skies.
Quiet as whisper and quiet as breath
Quiet as grave and those swallowed by death.
Silence now fills them with deepest of dread
Fears of the answer now filling their heads...

Suddenly figure appears from the bowels
Humble in frame but refusing to bow.
Jean was the name he was known by to crew
Smaller than rest of the men he was grew.
Slightest amongst them but hated the most
Few were the friends of which sailor could boast.

Still he was steadfast in tasks he was grant
Giving his all though his praises were scant.
Learning the work that a sailor performs
Striving though met with greatest of scorn.
Ever he's faithful to captain of ship
Man who is laid in his cabin and sick.

Wracked by an illness that suddenly came
On to his body his strength did it claim.
Sending him down to the deepest of sleep
Down to a slumber that's restless but deep.
Brief from his bedside had Jean now yet stole
Out to the deck to the sailors he goes.

Acting as proxy he goes to his work
Fighting the rain though its stinging did hurt.
Bracing himself to the hurricane's roar
Challenging winds as they ripped and then tore.
Slowly progressing on task in the night
Braving the tempest that solely he fights.

Long did he strive by himself on the deck
Trying to spare them from greatest of wrecks.
Finally turning his head did he see
Sailors in huddle avoiding their fee.
Rendering neither their service nor hands
Sitting defeat not as captain had planned.

Slowly he works through the winds that opposed
Over to sailors in fury he goes
Knowing the ship will be lost with their lives
Surely if men of the crew do not strive
Readying ship for the waves and the gales
Beating the vessel and tearing the sails.

Reaching their station with gait that was wroth
Working his anger to greatest of froth.
Drawing himself to the fullest of height
Bellowing loud with the greatest of might.
Shouting so all who were present could hear
Chiding their efforts but calming their fears.

"Has spray of tempest washed away your mind,
And made your station served too hard to find?
For length of trip your actions soul has vexed
When seldom ever crew performed to best!

You often gave me work that captain bid
When labor hard you wished yourselves to rid,
And mocked those working hard to fill their role
By jest and quips their labor deftly stole.

Now knowledge gained is mine and mine alone
To take my orders only option lone.
For night has shrouded deck and darkness sends,
But servant's learnt the ship like face of friend.

I'll guide your actions changing all our fate,
And keep this ship till ocean's wrath abates.
So heed my words and save your lives from storm
That ship may fight the winds of tempest born,

And let not foolish thoughts your mind bestride
To guard their pride so often men won't try.
Thus saving face forgoing duties all
But strive and heed not hubris' siren call.

That seeks to lure sailors down to doom,
And make the oceans' depths their early tomb!"

Lashing their waist he then led them around
Over the deck with a skill that's profound.
Knowing the vessel like back of his hand
Quickly he placed them with deftest of plans
Ordering men with a voice that did pierce
Over the sound of the storm though it's fierce.

Sending the sailors where needed the most
Working to guide the unruliest host.
Planning to save them from tempest so great
Bearing the burden of leadership's weight.
Bidding their actions with simplest of words
Shouting so over the waves he is heard.

"Now bury fears you feel inside your heart
So sailors fill their roles and play their part!
That ship and crew survive to see the day,
And live by beating back the ocean spray!

So lash the cannons tight and cargo stow
Beneath our feet inside the vessels hold,
And go to bow to under gird the ship
That boards in hull aren't broke apart and ripped!

Then lower sails from mast so sheets aren't torn
So after gale again by wind we're born!
Then slacken rigging holding mast aloft
So beams don't snap in winds the tempest wrought!

Now make a line to bale the water out
That hull be dry as desert during drought!
Then grasp the railing ship is turning fast
To face the waves till storm has blown yet past!

We'll scale those crests like mountains growing high,
And journey up to peaks that reach the sky!
For ship will keel if current course is set
So steady selves our hopes we must abet

With daring deed that calmest mind has planned
So once again on homeland's shores we'll stand!"

Up to helm of the ship he did fly
Grasping the wheel with a strength that was wry.
Struggling he pulled with the whole of his weight
Hoping his efforts would alter their fate.
Slowly the vessel did lurch to the stern
'Round to the waves did the galleon turn.

Facing the peaks that were touching the skies
Racing to meet them with harrowing cries.
Upward they climbed to the top of the waves
Stilling their hearts and pretending they're brave.
Scaling the peak at a frightening speed
Still to the words of their leader they heed.

Finally cresting the top of the wave
Resting for moment then starting to sway
Falling with terrible drop on the slope
Crashing from height that had stolen their hope.
Wracked by the blow when the bottom they reach
Filling their ears with the horrible screech.

"The first of trials past so steady selves
Through deepest dangers ship most forwards delve!
For many waves now come to galleon rend,
And crew must sail this ship to reach their end.

So ready hearts for more on vessel bear
That seek to smite our crew when ship they tear,
But fear not gale nor mighty tempest wrath
For fury great and dreadful crew will match!

And beat the storm with daring deeds so great
That acts will alter every sailor's fate!
Repent your sloth and prove your hearts are brave
By helping helmsman beat the ocean waves!"

Over and over they rose and then fell
Fighting with fury as ocean did swell
Staying their doom with the work of their hands
Steadying ship with the deftest of plans.
Yielding to neither the waves nor the winds
Stilling their will and refusing to bend.

Hard was their labor and long was the night
Great was their trial and fierce was the fight.
Still did they strive with the whole of their heart
Working though weak when the labor had start.
Knowing that only through service they live
Willing to follow what orders their give.

Steady and surely the tempest did slow
Softer and softer the winds did yet blow.
Tentative hope was now filling their soul
Knowing that sailors were nearing their goal.
Peaks that were reaching and touching the sky
Gradually dwindled beginning to die.

Finally cresting the last of the waves
Cheering when seeing the tempest had gave.
Clouds were now clearing as storm had now died
Opening up and revealing the sky.
Sailors collapsed for their bodies were worn
Ragged and beat by the winds of the storm.

"The danger's passed and vessel's saved from gale
No longer ship does face the winds that rail,
But still my heart does cry portending doom,
And air of ship is choked by deepest gloom.

So still yourselves a trial's coming fast,
And fate of crew the hand of chance does clasp.
A test is made to sift the wheat from tares
So pray that God may help your hearts forbear

From tempting thoughts that lead to sins so great
And beckon souls to yield to greatest hate.
Now rest from work but ponder words I've spoke
For down I go to mend a man that's broke.

Where captain lays his body weak and sick
I go in hopes his ills my hand may fix."

Down to the depths of the ship he did go
Down to quarters where captain abodes
Hoping his efforts would heal him of ill
Ready to lend him his knowledge and skill.
Leaving the crew to the mercy of thought
Knowing not trouble this deed has yet wrought...

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