#Tropical Storm Kirk

[you-should-take-her-to-big-sur]

Since Taylor's releasing a variant called "The Albatross"

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"

(text of 1834)

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Argument

How a Ship having passed the Line was driven by storms to the cold Country towards the South Pole; and how from thence she made her course to the tropical Latitude of the Great Pacific Ocean; and of the strange things that befell; and in what manner the Ancyent Marinere came back to his own Country.

PART I

It is an ancient Mariner,

And he stoppeth one of three.

'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,

Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?

The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide,

And I am next of kin;

The guests are met, the feast is set:

May'st hear the merry din.'

He holds him with his skinny hand,

'There was a ship,' quoth he.

'Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!'

Eftsoons his hand dropt he.

He holds him with his glittering eye—

The Wedding-Guest stood still,

And listens like a three years' child:

The Mariner hath his will.

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:

He cannot choose but hear;

And thus spake on that ancient man,

The bright-eyed Mariner.

'The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,

Merrily did we drop

Below the kirk, below the hill,

Below the lighthouse top.

The Sun came up upon the left,

Out of the sea came he!

And he shone bright, and on the right

Went down into the sea.

Higher and higher every day,

Till over the mast at noon—'

The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast,

For he heard the loud bassoon.

The bride hath paced into the hall,

Red as a rose is she;

Nodding their heads before her goes

The merry minstrelsy.

The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast,

Yet he cannot choose but hear;

And thus spake on that ancient man,

The bright-eyed Mariner.

And now the STORM-BLAST came, and he

Was tyrannous and strong:

He struck with his o'ertaking wings,

And chased us south along.

With sloping masts and dipping prow,

As who pursued with yell and blow

Still treads the shadow of his foe,

And forward bends his head,

The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast,

And southward aye we fled.

And now there came both mist and snow,

And it grew wondrous cold:

And ice, mast-high, came floating by,

As green as emerald.

And through the drifts the snowy clifts

Did send a dismal sheen:

Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken—

The ice was all between.

The ice was here, the ice was there,

The ice was all around:

It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,

Like noises in a swound!

At length did cross an Albatross,

Thorough the fog it came;

As if it had been a Christian soul,

We hailed it in God's name.

It ate the food it ne'er had eat,

And round and round it flew.

The ice did split with a thunder-fit;

The helmsman steered us through!

And a good south wind sprung up behind;

The Albatross did follow,

And every day, for food or play,

Came to the mariner's hollo!

In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,

It perched for vespers nine;

Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,

Glimmered the white Moon-shine.'

'God save thee, ancient Mariner!

From the fiends, that plague thee thus!—

Why look'st thou so?'—With my cross-bow

I shot the ALBATROSS.

PART II

The Sun now rose upon the right:

Out of the sea came he,

Still hid in mist, and on the left

Went down into the sea.

And the good south wind still blew behind,

But no sweet bird did follow,

Nor any day for food or play

Came to the mariner's hollo!

And I had done a hellish thing,

And it would work 'em woe:

For all averred, I had killed the bird

That made the breeze to blow.

Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay,

That made the breeze to blow!

Nor dim nor red, like God's own head,

The glorious Sun uprist:

Then all averred, I had killed the bird

That brought the fog and mist.

'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay,

That bring the fog and mist.

The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,

The furrow followed free;

We were the first that ever burst

Into that silent sea.

Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down,

'Twas sad as sad could be;

And we did speak only to break

The silence of the sea!

All in a hot and copper sky,

The bloody Sun, at noon,

Right up above the mast did stand,

No bigger than the Moon.

Day after day, day after day,

We stuck, nor breath nor motion;

As idle as a painted ship

Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where,

Nor any drop to drink.

The very deep did rot: O Christ!

That ever this should be!

Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs

Upon the slimy sea.

About, about, in reel and rout

The death-fires danced at night;

The water, like a witch's oils,

Burnt green, and blue and white.

And some in dreams assurèd were

Of the Spirit that plagued us so;

Nine fathom deep he had followed us

From the land of mist and snow.

And every tongue, through utter drought,

Was withered at the root;

We could not speak, no more than if

We had been choked with soot.

Ah! well a-day! what evil looks

Had I from old and young!

Instead of the cross, the Albatross

About my neck was hung.

PART III

There passed a weary time. Each throat

Was parched, and glazed each eye.

A weary time! a weary time!

How glazed each weary eye,

When looking westward, I beheld

A something in the sky.

At first it seemed a little speck,

And then it seemed a mist;

It moved and moved, and took at last

A certain shape, I wist.

A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist!

And still it neared and neared:

As if it dodged a water-sprite,

It plunged and tacked and veered.

With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,

We could nor laugh nor wail;

Through utter drought all dumb we stood!

I bit my arm, I sucked the blood,

And cried, A sail! a sail!

With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,

Agape they heard me call:

Gramercy! they for joy did grin,

And all at once their breath drew in.

As they were drinking all.

See! see! (I cried) she tacks no more!

Hither to work us weal;

Without a breeze, without a tide,

She steadies with upright keel!

The western wave was all a-flame.

The day was well nigh done!

Almost upon the western wave

Rested the broad bright Sun;

When that strange shape drove suddenly

Betwixt us and the Sun.

And straight the Sun was flecked with bars,

(Heaven's Mother send us grace!)

As if through a dungeon-grate he peered

With broad and burning face.

Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud)

How fast she nears and nears!

Are those her sails that glance in the Sun,

Like restless gossameres?

Are those her ribs through which the Sun

Did peer, as through a grate?

And is that Woman all her crew?

Is that a DEATH? and are there two?

Is DEATH that woman's mate?

Her lips were red, her looks were free,

Her locks were yellow as gold:

Her skin was as white as leprosy,

The Night-mare LIFE-IN-DEATH was she,

Who thicks man's blood with cold.

The naked hulk alongside came,

And the twain were casting dice;

'The game is done! I've won! I've won!'

Quoth she, and whistles thrice.

The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush out;

At one stride comes the dark;

With far-heard whisper, o'er the sea,

Off shot the spectre-bark.

We listened and looked sideways up!

Fear at my heart, as at a cup,

My life-blood seemed to sip!

The stars were dim, and thick the night,

The steersman's face by his lamp gleamed white;

From the sails the dew did drip—

Till clomb above the eastern bar

The hornèd Moon, with one bright star

Within the nether tip.

One after one, by the star-dogged Moon,

Too quick for groan or sigh,

Each turned his face with a ghastly pang,

And cursed me with his eye.

Four times fifty living men,

(And I heard nor sigh nor groan)

With heavy thump, a lifeless lump,

They dropped down one by one.

The souls did from their bodies fly,—

They fled to bliss or woe!

And every soul, it passed me by,

Like the whizz of my cross-bow!

PART IV

'I fear thee, ancient Mariner!

I fear thy skinny hand!

And thou art long, and lank, and brown,

As is the ribbed sea-sand.

I fear thee and thy glittering eye,

And thy skinny hand, so brown.'—

Fear not, fear not, thou Wedding-Guest!

This body dropt not down.

Alone, alone, all, all alone,

Alone on a wide wide sea!

And never a saint took pity on

My soul in agony.

The many men, so beautiful!

And they all dead did lie:

And a thousand thousand slimy things

Lived on; and so did I.

I looked upon the rotting sea,

And drew my eyes away;

I looked upon the rotting deck,

And there the dead men lay.

I looked to heaven, and tried to pray;

But or ever a prayer had gusht,

A wicked whisper came, and made

My heart as dry as dust.

I closed my lids, and kept them close,

And the balls like pulses beat;

For the sky and the sea, and the sea and the sky

Lay dead like a load on my weary eye,

And the dead were at my feet.

The cold sweat melted from their limbs,

Nor rot nor reek did they:

The look with which they looked on me

Had never passed away.

An orphan's curse would drag to hell

A spirit from on high;

But oh! more horrible than that

Is the curse in a dead man's eye!

Seven days, seven nights, I saw that curse,

And yet I could not die.

The moving Moon went up the sky,

And no where did abide:

Softly she was going up,

And a star or two beside—

Her beams bemocked the sultry main,

Like April hoar-frost spread;

But where the ship's huge shadow lay,

The charmèd water burnt alway

A still and awful red.

Beyond the shadow of the ship,

I watched the water-snakes:

They moved in tracks of shining white,

And when they reared, the elfish light

Fell off in hoary flakes.

Within the shadow of the ship

I watched their rich attire:

Blue, glossy green, and velvet black,

They coiled and swam; and every track

Was a flash of golden fire.

O happy living things! no tongue

Their beauty might declare:

A spring of love gushed from my heart,

And I blessed them unaware:

Sure my kind saint took pity on me,

And I blessed them unaware.

The self-same moment I could pray;

And from my neck so free

The Albatross fell off, and sank

Like lead into the sea.

PART V

Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing,

Beloved from pole to pole!

To Mary Queen the praise be given!

She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven,

That slid into my soul.

The silly buckets on the deck,

That had so long remained,

I dreamt that they were filled with dew;

And when I awoke, it rained.

My lips were wet, my throat was cold,

My garments all were dank;

Sure I had drunken in my dreams,

And still my body drank.

I moved, and could not feel my limbs:

I was so light—almost

I thought that I had died in sleep,

And was a blessed ghost.

And soon I heard a roaring wind:

It did not come anear;

But with its sound it shook the sails,

That were so thin and sere.

The upper air burst into life!

And a hundred fire-flags sheen,

To and fro they were hurried about!

And to and fro, and in and out,

The wan stars danced between.

And the coming wind did roar more loud,

And the sails did sigh like sedge,

And the rain poured down from one black cloud;

The Moon was at its edge.

The thick black cloud was cleft, and still

The Moon was at its side:

Like waters shot from some high crag,

The lightning fell with never a jag,

A river steep and wide.

The loud wind never reached the ship,

Yet now the ship moved on!

Beneath the lightning and the Moon

The dead men gave a groan.

They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose,

Nor spake, nor moved their eyes;

It had been strange, even in a dream,

To have seen those dead men rise.

The helmsman steered, the ship moved on;

Yet never a breeze up-blew;

The mariners all 'gan work the ropes,

Where they were wont to do;

They raised their limbs like lifeless tools—

We were a ghastly crew.

The body of my brother's son

Stood by me, knee to knee:

The body and I pulled at one rope,

But he said nought to me.

'I fear thee, ancient Mariner!'

Be calm, thou Wedding-Guest!

'Twas not those souls that fled in pain,

Which to their corses came again,

But a troop of spirits blest:

For when it dawned—they dropped their arms,

And clustered round the mast;

Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths,

And from their bodies passed.

Around, around, flew each sweet sound,

Then darted to the Sun;

Slowly the sounds came back again,

Now mixed, now one by one.

Sometimes a-dropping from the sky

I heard the sky-lark sing;

Sometimes all little birds that are,

How they seemed to fill the sea and air

With their sweet jargoning!

And now 'twas like all instruments,

Now like a lonely flute;

And now it is an angel's song,

That makes the heavens be mute.

It ceased; yet still the sails made on

A pleasant noise till noon,

A noise like of a hidden brook

In the leafy month of June,

That to the sleeping woods all night

Singeth a quiet tune.

Till noon we quietly sailed on,

Yet never a breeze did breathe:

Slowly and smoothly went the ship,

Moved onward from beneath.

Under the keel nine fathom deep,

From the land of mist and snow,

The spirit slid: and it was he

That made the ship to go.

The sails at noon left off their tune,

And the ship stood still also.

The Sun, right up above the mast,

Had fixed her to the ocean:

But in a minute she 'gan stir,

With a short uneasy motion—

Backwards and forwards half her length

With a short uneasy motion.

Then like a pawing horse let go,

She made a sudden bound:

It flung the blood into my head,

And I fell down in a swound.

How long in that same fit I lay,

I have not to declare;

But ere my living life returned,

I heard and in my soul discerned

Two voices in the air.

'Is it he?' quoth one, 'Is this the man?

By him who died on cross,

With his cruel bow he laid full low

The harmless Albatross.

The spirit who bideth by himself

In the land of mist and snow,

He loved the bird that loved the man

Who shot him with his bow.'

The other was a softer voice,

As soft as honey-dew:

Quoth he, 'The man hath penance done,

And penance more will do.'

PART VI

First Voice

'But tell me, tell me! speak again,

Thy soft response renewing—

What makes that ship drive on so fast?

What is the ocean doing?'

Second Voice

Still as a slave before his lord,

The ocean hath no blast;

His great bright eye most silently

Up to the Moon is cast—

If he may know which way to go;

For she guides him smooth or grim.

See, brother, see! how graciously

She looketh down on him.'

First Voice

'But why drives on that ship so fast,

Without wave or wind?'

Second Voice

'The air is cut away before,

And closes from behind.

Fly, brother, fly! more high, more high!

Or we shall be belated:

For slow and slow that ship will go,

When the Mariner's trance is abated.'

I woke, and we were sailing on

As in a gentle weather:

'Twas night, calm night, the moon was high;

The dead men stood together.

All stood together on the deck,

For a charnel-dungeon fitter:

All fixed on me their stony eyes,

That in the Moon did glitter.

The pang, the curse, with which they died,

Had never passed away:

I could not draw my eyes from theirs,

Nor turn them up to pray.

And now this spell was snapt: once more

I viewed the ocean green,

And looked far forth, yet little saw

Of what had else been seen—

Like one, that on a lonesome road

Doth walk in fear and dread,

And having once turned round walks on,

And turns no more his head;

Because he knows, a frightful fiend

Doth close behind him tread.

But soon there breathed a wind on me,

Nor sound nor motion made:

Its path was not upon the sea,

In ripple or in shade.

It raised my hair, it fanned my cheek

Like a meadow-gale of spring—

It mingled strangely with my fears,

Yet it felt like a welcoming.

Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship,

Yet she sailed softly too:

Sweetly, sweetly blew the breeze—

On me alone it blew.

Oh! dream of joy! is this indeed

The light-house top I see?

Is this the hill? is this the kirk?

Is this mine own countree?

We drifted o'er the harbour-bar,

And I with sobs did pray—

O let me be awake, my God!

Or let me sleep alway.

The harbour-bay was clear as glass,

So smoothly it was strewn!

And on the bay the moonlight lay,

And the shadow of the Moon.

The rock shone bright, the kirk no less,

That stands above the rock:

The moonlight steeped in silentness

The steady weathercock.

And the bay was white with silent light,

Till rising from the same,

Full many shapes, that shadows were,

In crimson colours came.

A little distance from the prow

Those crimson shadows were:

I turned my eyes upon the deck—

Oh, Christ! what saw I there!

Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat,

And, by the holy rood!

A man all light, a seraph-man,

On every corse there stood.

This seraph-band, each waved his hand:

It was a heavenly sight!

They stood as signals to the land,

Each one a lovely light;

This seraph-band, each waved his hand,

No voice did they impart—

No voice; but oh! the silence sank

Like music on my heart.

But soon I heard the dash of oars,

I heard the Pilot's cheer;

My head was turned perforce away

And I saw a boat appear.

The Pilot and the Pilot's boy,

I heard them coming fast:

Dear Lord in Heaven! it was a joy

The dead men could not blast.

I saw a third—I heard his voice:

It is the Hermit good!

He singeth loud his godly hymns

That he makes in the wood.

He'll shrieve my soul, he'll wash away

The Albatross's blood.

PART VII

This Hermit good lives in that wood

Which slopes down to the sea.

How loudly his sweet voice he rears!

He loves to talk with marineres

That come from a far countree.

He kneels at morn, and noon, and eve—

He hath a cushion plump:

It is the moss that wholly hides

The rotted old oak-stump.

The skiff-boat neared: I heard them talk,

'Why, this is strange, I trow!

Where are those lights so many and fair,

That signal made but now?'

'Strange, by my faith!' the Hermit said—

'And they answered not our cheer!

The planks looked warped! and see those sails,

How thin they are and sere!

I never saw aught like to them,

Unless perchance it were

Brown skeletons of leaves that lag

My forest-brook along;

When the ivy-tod is heavy with snow,

And the owlet whoops to the wolf below,

That eats the she-wolf's young.'

'Dear Lord! it hath a fiendish look—

(The Pilot made reply)

I am a-feared'—'Push on, push on!'

Said the Hermit cheerily.

The boat came closer to the ship,

But I nor spake nor stirred;

The boat came close beneath the ship,

And straight a sound was heard.

Under the water it rumbled on,

Still louder and more dread:

It reached the ship, it split the bay;

The ship went down like lead.

Stunned by that loud and dreadful sound,

Which sky and ocean smote,

Like one that hath been seven days drowned

My body lay afloat;

But swift as dreams, myself I found

Within the Pilot's boat.

Upon the whirl, where sank the ship,

The boat spun round and round;

And all was still, save that the hill

Was telling of the sound.

I moved my lips—the Pilot shrieked

And fell down in a fit;

The holy Hermit raised his eyes,

And prayed where he did sit.

I took the oars: the Pilot's boy,

Who now doth crazy go,

Laughed loud and long, and all the while

His eyes went to and fro.

'Ha! ha!' quoth he, 'full plain I see,

The Devil knows how to row.'

And now, all in my own countree,

I stood on the firm land!

The Hermit stepped forth from the boat,

And scarcely he could stand.

'O shrieve me, shrieve me, holy man!'

The Hermit crossed his brow.

'Say quick,' quoth he, 'I bid thee say—

What manner of man art thou?'

Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched

With a woful agony,

Which forced me to begin my tale;

And then it left me free.

Since then, at an uncertain hour,

That agony returns:

And till my ghastly tale is told,

This heart within me burns.

I pass, like night, from land to land;

I have strange power of speech;

That moment that his face I see,

I know the man that must hear me:

To him my tale I teach.

What loud uproar bursts from that door!

The wedding-guests are there:

But in the garden-bower the bride

And bride-maids singing are:

And hark the little vesper bell,

Which biddeth me to prayer!

O Wedding-Guest! this soul hath been

Alone on a wide wide sea:

So lonely 'twas, that God himself

Scarce seemèd there to be.

O sweeter than the marriage-feast,

'Tis sweeter far to me,

To walk together to the kirk

With a goodly company!—

To walk together to the kirk,

And all together pray,

While each to his great Father bends,

Old men, and babes, and loving friends

And youths and maidens gay!

Farewell, farewell! but this I tell

To thee, thou Wedding-Guest!

He prayeth well, who loveth well

Both man and bird and beast.

He prayeth best, who loveth best

All things both great and small;

For the dear God who loveth us,

He made and loveth all.

The Mariner, whose eye is bright,

Whose beard with age is hoar,

Is gone: and now the Wedding-Guest

Turned from the bridegroom's door.

He went like one that hath been stunned,

And is of sense forlorn:

A sadder and a wiser man,

He rose the morrow morn.

[chiropterx]

OOC// What is your favourite bat species? Why?

"Now that's just not fair to ask! Don't you know there's over 1400 species to choose from?" Kirk chuckles lightly, his boyish face set in a wide grin. He's interested in the question however; most people assumed vampire bats were his favourite and in a way they were due to working with his own for several years, causing the scientist to go off on a tangent. "Let's see, I like a number of species. Pteropus vampyrus may sound like a member of the vampire bat family due to it's name but truthfully belong to Pteropodidae, and are better known as the Flying Fox! Despite their size, they're harmless fruigivores - all they're interested in are fruits, flowers and nectar, not blood from humans or any animal." He trails off before continuing. "Craseonycteris thonglongyai is another favourite of mine and one I've yet to see. It's true name is the Kitti's hog-nosed bat but most people know it as the Bumblebee bat. If you've guessed it's because of their size, you'd be right! They're the world's smallest species of bat and may just be the smallest mammal currently alive today, measuring roughly an inch high and weighing just 2 grams. Absolutely adorable." He smiles again and raises a hand, ticking off a finger. "Since you asked what my favourite species is, I'll have to tell you. It's Ectophylla alba, and if you don't know the name, don't be ashamed. They're a pretty obscure species unless you go by their common name, which is the Caribbean white tent-making bat. That pretty much tells you what it is they do, making little homes for themselves and their family! A small colony stays together, working as one to create shelter from the tropical storms of their native country. Their preferred choice of plant is the Heliconia with it's long, broad leaves that provide the perfect shelter from the rain. They're really quite industrious little creatures and are well-known for their pure white coats and yellow ears." His smile is wide, beaming and bright as his tongue continues firing off facts and information from the tip of his tongue before he remembers he's talking too much and sighs, breaking off from his speech. "But they're all fantastic creatures, really. Other than that, personally my favourite bat of all happens to be Drusilla, the oldest female vampire bat in my care. She's the one with only one functional wing but don't let that fool you, she's quite capable of getting around even though she's no longer able to fly! She's a real trooper and has no problem keeping the other troublemakers in line!"

// Chip's favourite species of bat is the pipistrelle, of which she enjoys watching in the early evenings of spring and summer keeping down the local insect population!

[riveraffinity]

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

ARGUMENT

How a Ship having passed the Line was driven by storms to the cold Country towards the South Pole; and how from thence she made her course to the tropical Latitude of the Great Pacific Ocean; and of the strange things that befell; and in what manner the Ancyent Marinere came back to his own Country.

PART THE FIRST

It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. "By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?

"The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide, And I am next of kin; The guests are met, the feast is set: May'st hear the merry din."

He holds him with his skinny hand, "There was a ship," quoth he. "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!" Eftsoons his hand dropt he.

He holds him with his glittering eye-- The Wedding-Guest stood still, And listens like a three years child: The Mariner hath his will.

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He cannot chuse but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner.

The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, Merrily did we drop Below the kirk, below the hill, Below the light-house top.

The Sun came up upon the left, Out of the sea came he! And he shone bright, and on the right Went down into the sea.

Higher and higher every day, Till over the mast at noon-- The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast, For he heard the loud bassoon.

The bride hath paced into the hall, Red as a rose is she; Nodding their heads before her goes The merry minstrelsy.

The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast, Yet he cannot chuse but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner.

And now the STORM-BLAST came, and he Was tyrannous and strong: He struck with his o'ertaking wings, And chased south along.

With sloping masts and dipping prow, As who pursued with yell and blow Still treads the shadow of his foe And forward bends his head, The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast, And southward aye we fled.

And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold: And ice, mast-high, came floating by, As green as emerald.

And through the drifts the snowy clifts Did send a dismal sheen: Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken-- The ice was all between.

The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound!

At length did cross an Albatross: Thorough the fog it came; As if it had been a Christian soul, We hailed it in God's name.

It ate the food it ne'er had eat, And round and round it flew. The ice did split with a thunder-fit; The helmsman steered us through!

And a good south wind sprung up behind; The Albatross did follow, And every day, for food or play, Came to the mariners' hollo!

In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud, It perched for vespers nine; Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white, Glimmered the white Moon-shine.

"God save thee, ancient Mariner! From the fiends, that plague thee thus!-- Why look'st thou so?"--With my cross-bow I shot the ALBATROSS.

PART THE SECOND

The Sun now rose upon the right: Out of the sea came he, Still hid in mist, and on the left Went down into the sea.

And the good south wind still blew behind But no sweet bird did follow, Nor any day for food or play Came to the mariners' hollo!

And I had done an hellish thing, And it would work 'em woe: For all averred, I had killed the bird That made the breeze to blow. Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay That made the breeze to blow!

Nor dim nor red, like God's own head, The glorious Sun uprist: Then all averred, I had killed the bird That brought the fog and mist. 'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, That bring the fog and mist.

The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free: We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea.

Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down, 'Twas sad as sad could be; And we did speak only to break The silence of the sea!

All in a hot and copper sky, The bloody Sun, at noon, Right up above the mast did stand, No bigger than the Moon.

Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.

The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.

About, about, in reel and rout The death-fires danced at night; The water, like a witch's oils, Burnt green, and blue and white.

And some in dreams assured were Of the spirit that plagued us so: Nine fathom deep he had followed us From the land of mist and snow.

And every tongue, through utter drought, Was withered at the root; We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot.

Ah! well a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.

PART THE THIRD

There passed a weary time. Each throat Was parched, and glazed each eye. A weary time! a weary time! How glazed each weary eye, When looking westward, I beheld A something in the sky.

At first it seemed a little speck, And then it seemed a mist: It moved and moved, and took at last A certain shape, I wist.

A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared and neared: As if it dodged a water-sprite, It plunged and tacked and veered.

With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, We could not laugh nor wail; Through utter drought all dumb we stood! I bit my arm, I sucked the blood, And cried, A sail! a sail!

With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, Agape they heard me call: Gramercy! they for joy did grin, And all at once their breath drew in, As they were drinking all.

See! see! (I cried) she tacks no more! Hither to work us weal; Without a breeze, without a tide, She steadies with upright keel!

The western wave was all a-flame The day was well nigh done! Almost upon the western wave Rested the broad bright Sun; When that strange shape drove suddenly Betwixt us and the Sun.

And straight the Sun was flecked with bars, (Heaven's Mother send us grace!) As if through a dungeon-grate he peered, With broad and burning face.

Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud) How fast she nears and nears! Are those her sails that glance in the Sun, Like restless gossameres!

Are those her ribs through which the Sun Did peer, as through a grate? And is that Woman all her crew? Is that a DEATH? and are there two? Is DEATH that woman's mate?

Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was as white as leprosy, The Night-Mare LIFE-IN-DEATH was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold.

The naked hulk alongside came, And the twain were casting dice; "The game is done! I've won! I've won!" Quoth she, and whistles thrice.

The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush out: At one stride comes the dark; With far-heard whisper, o'er the sea. Off shot the spectre-bark.

We listened and looked sideways up! Fear at my heart, as at a cup, My life-blood seemed to sip!

The stars were dim, and thick the night, The steersman's face by his lamp gleamed white; From the sails the dew did drip-- Till clombe above the eastern bar The horned Moon, with one bright star Within the nether tip.

One after one, by the star-dogged Moon Too quick for groan or sigh, Each turned his face with a ghastly pang, And cursed me with his eye.

Four times fifty living men, (And I heard nor sigh nor groan) With heavy thump, a lifeless lump, They dropped down one by one.

The souls did from their bodies fly,-- They fled to bliss or woe! And every soul, it passed me by, Like the whizz of my CROSS-BOW!

PART THE FOURTH

"I fear thee, ancient Mariner! I fear thy skinny hand! And thou art long, and lank, and brown, As is the ribbed sea-sand.

"I fear thee and thy glittering eye, And thy skinny hand, so brown."-- Fear not, fear not, thou Wedding-Guest! This body dropt not down.

Alone, alone, all, all alone, Alone on a wide wide sea! And never a saint took pity on My soul in agony.

The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I

I looked upon the rotting sea, And drew my eyes away; I looked upon the rotting deck, And there the dead men lay.

I looked to Heaven, and tried to pray: But or ever a prayer had gusht, A wicked whisper came, and made my heart as dry as dust.

I closed my lids, and kept them close, And the balls like pulses beat; For the sky and the sea, and the sea and the sky Lay like a load on my weary eye, And the dead were at my feet.

The cold sweat melted from their limbs, Nor rot nor reek did they: The look with which they looked on me Had never passed away.

An orphan's curse would drag to Hell A spirit from on high; But oh! more horrible than that Is a curse in a dead man's eye! Seven days, seven nights, I saw that curse, And yet I could not die.

The moving Moon went up the sky, And no where did abide: Softly she was going up, And a star or two beside.

Her beams bemocked the sultry main, Like April hoar-frost spread; But where the ship's huge shadow lay, The charmed water burnt alway A still and awful red.

Beyond the shadow of the ship, I watched the water-snakes: They moved in tracks of shining white, And when they reared, the elfish light Fell off in hoary flakes.

Within the shadow of the ship I watched their rich attire: Blue, glossy green, and velvet black, They coiled and swam; and every track Was a flash of golden fire.

O happy living things! no tongue Their beauty might declare: A spring of love gushed from my heart, And I blessed them unaware: Sure my kind saint took pity on me, And I blessed them unaware.

The self same moment I could pray; And from my neck so free The Albatross fell off, and sank Like lead into the sea.

PART THE FIFTH

Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing, Beloved from pole to pole! To Mary Queen the praise be given! She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven, That slid into my soul.

The silly buckets on the deck, That had so long remained, I dreamt that they were filled with dew; And when I awoke, it rained.

My lips were wet, my throat was cold, My garments all were dank; Sure I had drunken in my dreams, And still my body drank.

I moved, and could not feel my limbs: I was so light--almost I thought that I had died in sleep, And was a blessed ghost.

And soon I heard a roaring wind: It did not come anear; But with its sound it shook the sails, That were so thin and sere.

The upper air burst into life! And a hundred fire-flags sheen, To and fro they were hurried about! And to and fro, and in and out, The wan stars danced between.

And the coming wind did roar more loud, And the sails did sigh like sedge; And the rain poured down from one black cloud; The Moon was at its edge.

The thick black cloud was cleft, and still The Moon was at its side: Like waters shot from some high crag, The lightning fell with never a jag, A river steep and wide.

The loud wind never reached the ship, Yet now the ship moved on! Beneath the lightning and the Moon The dead men gave a groan.

They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, Nor spake, nor moved their eyes; It had been strange, even in a dream, To have seen those dead men rise.

The helmsman steered, the ship moved on; Yet never a breeze up blew; The mariners all 'gan work the ropes, Were they were wont to do: They raised their limbs like lifeless tools-- We were a ghastly crew.

The body of my brother's son, Stood by me, knee to knee: The body and I pulled at one rope, But he said nought to me.

"I fear thee, ancient Mariner!" Be calm, thou Wedding-Guest! 'Twas not those souls that fled in pain, Which to their corses came again, But a troop of spirits blest:

For when it dawned--they dropped their arms, And clustered round the mast; Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, And from their bodies passed.

Around, around, flew each sweet sound, Then darted to the Sun; Slowly the sounds came back again, Now mixed, now one by one.

Sometimes a-dropping from the sky I heard the sky-lark sing; Sometimes all little birds that are, How they seemed to fill the sea and air With their sweet jargoning!

And now 'twas like all instruments, Now like a lonely flute; And now it is an angel's song, That makes the Heavens be mute.

It ceased; yet still the sails made on A pleasant noise till noon, A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune.

Till noon we quietly sailed on, Yet never a breeze did breathe: Slowly and smoothly went the ship, Moved onward from beneath.

Under the keel nine fathom deep, From the land of mist and snow, The spirit slid: and it was he That made the ship to go. The sails at noon left off their tune, And the ship stood still also.

The Sun, right up above the mast, Had fixed her to the ocean: But in a minute she 'gan stir, With a short uneasy motion-- Backwards and forwards half her length With a short uneasy motion.

Then like a pawing horse let go, She made a sudden bound: It flung the blood into my head, And I fell down in a swound.

How long in that same fit I lay, I have not to declare; But ere my living life returned, I heard and in my soul discerned Two VOICES in the air.

"Is it he?" quoth one, "Is this the man? By him who died on cross, With his cruel bow he laid full low, The harmless Albatross.

"The spirit who bideth by himself In the land of mist and snow, He loved the bird that loved the man Who shot him with his bow."

The other was a softer voice, As soft as honey-dew: Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, And penance more will do."

PART THE SIXTH

FIRST VOICE.

But tell me, tell me! speak again, Thy soft response renewing-- What makes that ship drive on so fast? What is the OCEAN doing?

SECOND VOICE.

Still as a slave before his lord, The OCEAN hath no blast; His great bright eye most silently Up to the Moon is cast--

If he may know which way to go; For she guides him smooth or grim See, brother, see! how graciously She looketh down on him.

FIRST VOICE.

But why drives on that ship so fast, Without or wave or wind?

SECOND VOICE.

The air is cut away before, And closes from behind.

Fly, brother, fly! more high, more high Or we shall be belated: For slow and slow that ship will go, When the Mariner's trance is abated.

I woke, and we were sailing on As in a gentle weather: 'Twas night, calm night, the Moon was high; The dead men stood together.

All stood together on the deck, For a charnel-dungeon fitter: All fixed on me their stony eyes, That in the Moon did glitter.

The pang, the curse, with which they died, Had never passed away: I could not draw my eyes from theirs, Nor turn them up to pray.

And now this spell was snapt: once more I viewed the ocean green. And looked far forth, yet little saw Of what had else been seen--

Like one that on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread, And having once turned round walks on, And turns no more his head; Because he knows, a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread.

But soon there breathed a wind on me, Nor sound nor motion made: Its path was not upon the sea, In ripple or in shade.

It raised my hair, it fanned my cheek Like a meadow-gale of spring-- It mingled strangely with my fears, Yet it felt like a welcoming.

Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship, Yet she sailed softly too: Sweetly, sweetly blew the breeze-- On me alone it blew.

Oh! dream of joy! is this indeed The light-house top I see? Is this the hill? is this the kirk? Is this mine own countree!

We drifted o'er the harbour-bar, And I with sobs did pray-- O let me be awake, my God! Or let me sleep alway.

The harbour-bay was clear as glass, So smoothly it was strewn! And on the bay the moonlight lay, And the shadow of the moon.

The rock shone bright, the kirk no less, That stands above the rock: The moonlight steeped in silentness The steady weathercock.

And the bay was white with silent light, Till rising from the same, Full many shapes, that shadows were, In crimson colours came.

A little distance from the prow Those crimson shadows were: I turned my eyes upon the deck-- Oh, Christ! what saw I there!

Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat, And, by the holy rood! A man all light, a seraph-man, On every corse there stood.

This seraph band, each waved his hand: It was a heavenly sight! They stood as signals to the land, Each one a lovely light:

This seraph-band, each waved his hand, No voice did they impart-- No voice; but oh! the silence sank Like music on my heart.

But soon I heard the dash of oars; I heard the Pilot's cheer; My head was turned perforce away, And I saw a boat appear.

The Pilot, and the Pilot's boy, I heard them coming fast: Dear Lord in Heaven! it was a joy The dead men could not blast.

I saw a third--I heard his voice: It is the Hermit good! He singeth loud his godly hymns That he makes in the wood. He'll shrieve my soul, he'll wash away The Albatross's blood.

PART THE SEVENTH

This Hermit good lives in that wood Which slopes down to the sea. How loudly his sweet voice he rears! He loves to talk with marineres That come from a far countree.

He kneels at morn and noon and eve-- He hath a cushion plump: It is the moss that wholly hides The rotted old oak-stump.

The skiff-boat neared: I heard them talk, "Why this is strange, I trow! Where are those lights so many and fair, That signal made but now?"

"Strange, by my faith!" the Hermit said-- "And they answered not our cheer! The planks looked warped! and see those sails, How thin they are and sere! I never saw aught like to them, Unless perchance it were

"Brown skeletons of leaves that lag My forest-brook along; When the ivy-tod is heavy with snow, And the owlet whoops to the wolf below, That eats the she-wolf's young."

"Dear Lord! it hath a fiendish look-- (The Pilot made reply) I am a-feared"--"Push on, push on!" Said the Hermit cheerily.

The boat came closer to the ship, But I nor spake nor stirred; The boat came close beneath the ship, And straight a sound was heard.

Under the water it rumbled on, Still louder and more dread: It reached the ship, it split the bay; The ship went down like lead.

Stunned by that loud and dreadful sound, Which sky and ocean smote, Like one that hath been seven days drowned My body lay afloat; But swift as dreams, myself I found Within the Pilot's boat.

Upon the whirl, where sank the ship, The boat spun round and round; And all was still, save that the hill Was telling of the sound.

I moved my lips--the Pilot shrieked And fell down in a fit; The holy Hermit raised his eyes, And prayed where he did sit.

I took the oars: the Pilot's boy, Who now doth crazy go, Laughed loud and long, and all the while His eyes went to and fro. "Ha! ha!" quoth he, "full plain I see, The Devil knows how to row."

And now, all in my own countree, I stood on the firm land! The Hermit stepped forth from the boat, And scarcely he could stand.

"O shrieve me, shrieve me, holy man!" The Hermit crossed his brow. "Say quick," quoth he, "I bid thee say-- What manner of man art thou?"

Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched With a woeful agony, Which forced me to begin my tale; And then it left me free.

Since then, at an uncertain hour, That agony returns; And till my ghastly tale is told, This heart within me burns.

I pass, like night, from land to land; I have strange power of speech; That moment that his face I see, I know the man that must hear me: To him my tale I teach.

What loud uproar bursts from that door! The wedding-guests are there: But in the garden-bower the bride And bride-maids singing are: And hark the little vesper bell, Which biddeth me to prayer!

O Wedding-Guest! this soul hath been Alone on a wide wide sea: So lonely 'twas, that God himself Scarce seemed there to be.

O sweeter than the marriage-feast, 'Tis sweeter far to me, To walk together to the kirk With a goodly company!--

To walk together to the kirk, And all together pray, While each to his great Father bends, Old men, and babes, and loving friends, And youths and maidens gay!

Farewell, farewell! but this I tell To thee, thou Wedding-Guest! He prayeth well, who loveth well Both man and bird and beast.

He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us He made and loveth all.

The Mariner, whose eye is bright, Whose beard with age is hoar, Is gone: and now the Wedding-Guest Turned from the bridegroom's door.

He went like one that hath been stunned, And is of sense forlorn: A sadder and a wiser man, He rose the morrow morn.

[notastupidape]

Someone had fun with the headline at the bottom.

[nickysurfer28]

Hot sessions: man cave part 2

This one is for @denisemarieangelina she wanted to have a Nomad Steve Rogers visit her this time in the man cave. Lol 😂 Just has you requested my lady. Here you go. You might need a fan. FYI.

Warning ⚠️: 18+ only , smut , fluff, nudity, etc.

Pairing : Densie (female reader) x Nomad Steve Rogers (infinity war)

It was finally Friday and after a long week of tropical storms and hot humid weather Denise couldn’t wait to retreat to your husband’s man cave for Movie night. Tonight, was the night for Avengers: Infinity War. Nomad Steve Rogers was another of your favorite besides Captain America Winter Soldier version. His long fluffy hair and his full beard in effect. All Denise could think about was how hairy his chest and nipples could be under that suit of his.

“I could just picture that man’s sexy hairy chest.” She quickly snapped back into reality. She finishes setting the movie on the Xbox and quickly text the girls on the chat room.

Chat room:

Denise: hey ladies, I’m all set up and ready to go! I’m just going to make popcorn really quick. I’ll be back.

Nicky: Okie Dokie

Dalia: okay momma

Shannon: take your time!

Tanya: no rush!

Denise headed into the kitchen to quickly make your popcorn. Just as she was about to pour the popcorn into the bowl your kitchen started shaking like an earthquake was happening.

“What the hell is going on!” She went to check outside but no signs of destruction anyway.

“That’s weird” She continued her way back to the man cave with the popcorn.

Just as Denise entered the man cave there stood this tall figure. She dropped the bowl of popcorn to only notice it was Steve Rogers.

“Oh ...again?!” Denise stared in awe to notice this time it was nomad Steve Rogers from Infinity War. “Holy shit...”

“Ma’am, I’m sorry to intrude but, where am I?” Steve stood firm with his hands on his utility belt.

“Uh...well you’re in my house.” She just stood there in shock. Her eyes traced his entire body.

“Well, I think I got pulled into some portal and it brought me here... you look familiar?” Steve replied.

“I believe another version came to visit me before,” Denise answered.

“Oh. well I’m Steve Rogers. You are?” Steve replied.

“I’m ... uh. oh, I’m Denise.” She replied.

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you Denise.” Steve smiled and out his hand out for a handshake.

“Oh. pleasure is all my Steve.” She smiled back and shake his hand.

Denise could tell he looked tired and his suit was worn out. The star on his suit was gone and it looks like he hadn’t showered and eaten properly in days. She wanted to offered him a warm meal and a hot shower. The Italian women in her offering food was just second nature. She couldn’t resist because it was freaking Steve Rogers.

“Would you like something to eat Steve, possibly take a hot shower and maybe I could clean your suit” Denise replied.

Steve almost hesitated at first but the sound of a hot meal and a shower sounded good. “Sure. that would be great.” Steve smiled.

She brought him to the bathroom and showed him where the towels were. Denise left to clean up and told him she would make his meal while he washed up.

“I’ll be out here if you need anything.” Denise replied.

Steve nodded. “Thank you, Denise.”

Denise quickly headed into the kitchen and thought about making pasta. “Oh, I still have leftover spaghetti sauce...I could just make the pasta really quick.” Not long she finished making the pasta, she heated up the leftover spaghetti sauce.

Everything was all done and ready. Steve came out into the kitchen but with just a towel around his waist. Denise stood there in awe of his hairy chiseled body. He had his suit in hand.

“Sorry to come out like this. If you show me where the laundry room is, I can do it myself.” Steve replied.

“Um... uh yeah it’s right down the hallway to your left.” Her face was flushed red from the site of his body.

He smiled. “Thank you. Also is there something I can wear besides this towel.”

“Uh. yes. I’ll ...let ...check.” she stuttered.

“By the way the meal smells delicious.” Steve replied and headed into the laundry room.

She hurried out of the kitchen trying to compose herself. “Wow. that body on that man...I need a fan”

She found shirt and loose sweatpants that look like would fit Steve. She headed over to the laundry room to find Steve turning on the machine and starting the cycle to wash. Your eyes glanced up and down his delicious hairy body.

“Hey. Steve, I found shirt and sweatpants to wear while your suit gets washed.” Denise replied blushing.

“Thank you, Denise, I really appreciate it.” Steve replied.

“Oh. uh. I’ll let you get dressed. I’ll be in the man cave to clean up that popcorn I drop.” Denise replied.

She left Steve to get dressed. He came back to the kitchen and sat at the table. She brought over the hot plate of pasta to him. Steve smiled and happily ate the hot food. He seemed pleased. He offered to clean his plate and she let him since she wanted to go clean up your popcorn spill.

She grabbed the broom and headed into the man cave to clean up the popcorn that dropped on the floor. As she was cleaning, she felt these big hands wrap around her waist. Denise could feel him closing in from behind. Steve rubbed himself against her body. Her eyes widen by the feel of his hard member.

“Steve... um.” Denise replied.

“Did I say you could stop.” Steve replied.

“Oh. so that’s how you want to be. Well” Denise replied with a chuckle.

Denise turned around to face Steve. His face wasn’t please with her actions. She faced him with a big smirky grin. She traced her fingers along his beard down to his chest. He looked deep into your eyes. Her hands keeping wandering all over his chest until she reached for his already hard cock.

“Oh Steve...well. Well.” Denise giggled with excitement.

“Is that a bit much for you Denise.” Steve replied.

She couldn’t help herself any longer. Denise took a hold of Steve and threw him on the other recliner in the room.

“I want to break this chair in now” Denise replied. Without any hesitation you climbed on top of Steve ripping the shirt off and exposing his chiseled hairy chest and nipples. “God... I knew it !!”

Steve helped her out of the shirt, unclamping your bra letting out your large breasts. Steve dove into your chest kissing and sucking your breasts greedily. She laced her fingers thru his long fluffy hair moaning in ecstasy.

“Wow. Steve...ahh.” She yelled with excitement.

“You want this...Denise “Steve replied. “God !!...yesses!!” Denise squealed.

Steve helped her out of her pants and underwear with ease. He ripped the sweatpants off revealing his hard cock bobbing in the air. Denise quickly placed herself on-top of his hard cock. She could feel his thick hard cock feeling up inside. Denise began to ride him like a bucking bronco. Steve matched with her speed and thrusting deep inside as well.

“Oh yes!” She yelled out as she could feel him going deeper and harder with his thrusts. This Steve was different from the last Steve Rogers they visited here. He already been thru so much and more experienced.

“Yeah, take my big hard cock!” Steve grunted loudly.

“Oh Steve...” she squealed loudly.

Steve picked up the pace thrusting faster. She titled her head and arched your back feeling his hands squeeze on her large breasts as he pumped deep inside her. He sucked and nibbled on her nipples making her moan in sweet ecstasy. Denise pulled on his long hair as her hands trace down to his shoulders digging her fingers into his back. He grunted pumping you even more. Denise could feel the hot flush of the climax rising.

“Oh God! Steve! I’m going to cum!” Denise yelled.

“Yes, cum on my cock!” Steve replied heavily breathing. He thrusted faster this time feeling her body ready to climax. He finally spilled his hot seed inside her core. You both just collapsed there in the recliner all sweaty heavily breathing. Steve trying to catch his breathe.

“Damn women ... you were something else.”

“Oh yeah...so were you Steve.” Denise replied trying to catch her breathe.

She cleaned herself up and put on some comfy clothes. Steve finished cleaning up himself and got his suit back on. He met you back in the man cave.

“Well. Denise that was. exciting.” Steve replied.

“Same. here.” She giggled.

Steve kisses you gently on your forehead and gives her a big warm hug. She didn’t want to let go of his warm embrace.

“God this feels so good” She looked up into his blue eyes meeting with his warm smile. Steve kisses Denise gentle on the lips. He lets go and walking thru the vortex and disappears.

She can hear the cellphone beeping somewhere in the room. She quickly finds it on the table. There are over 20 notifications from the girls in the chat room. “Wait until. I tell the girls! this time it was nomad Steve.”

Tags: @denisemarieangelina @joannaliceevans-fanficblog @waywardodysseys @daliaevans @pine-fresh-kirk @tanyam93 @mizcaptainphoenix @ohmy-captain @deidrashouseofpain @optimistic-dinosaur-nacho @sweater-daddiesdumbdork @jtargaryen18 @kelbabyblue @kellyn1604 @luna8819 @ok-buchanan @shreyaaaaaaaaaaaa @shellbilee @lovinevans @jms358 @amazonx @americasass91 @thatsxamericasxass @thatgirly81 @katiew1973 @iamwhoiamtmblr @nomadevans82 @icanfeelastormbrewing @chris-evans-indian-fanfic @chris-butt @brilliantkey @bellaireland1981 @softbeanevans @captainchrisstan @captaincrazyexlover @oddsnendsfanfics @branflakes82 @littlefiercequeen @trishevans @evans713 @comebackandhauntme21 @southerngracela @wintrcaptn @star-spangled-beard-burn @artisticrogers1972 @donutloverxo @fafulous @imanuglywombat @nekoannie-chan

[newspaddy]

CBS News

Tropical Storm Kirk reemerges, strengthens in Atlantic, forecasters say CBS News Tropical Storm Kirk, which lost strength and had dissipated earlier this week as it crossed the tropical Atlantic, has strengthened and reemerged Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. Forecasters say little additional ... and more »

[xyliane]

love or fear of cold

summary: killua can’t sleep. it’s the problem with getting used to a storm who can’t shut up and can’t stop moving. when it’s quiet, it’s hard to tell where he went. 

notes:  okay yeah I didn’t write anything for several weeks but look over here, a fluff! for that au I have where gon’s a summer storm and killua and alluka are stormchasers. also happy saint’s day for the patron saint of beekeepers and the plague. G, aged-up killugon (killua’s ~23 or 24, gon’s a storm so.), thunderstruck au, 2000 words. (title’s from mumford and sons)

----

Killua can’t sleep.

Once, it wouldn’t have made sense that some place can be too quiet. His parents’ homes are either too far away or too high above the world, the barest wisps of clouds or the distant hum of traffic the only white noise to break through the thick walls of metal and glass. Even Gramps’s place, the old mansion an hour outside of town, doesn’t so much make noise as echo with nothing, the butlers’ footsteps silent. The world was quiet, and Killua had slept easy knowing that was how it was made for him.

But that was a long time ago.

When he and Alluka had first stayed at Palm’s house, pressed into clean clothes and warm food by a cranky Palm and an apologetic Ikalgo, neither of them had slept well. The whole place creaks with a threat that it’s about to fall down even in the lightest breeze, as though the warmth built steadily in an ancient heater will leak out the cracks. The house isn’t too far from her restaurant, but it’s been around since before the storms can remember, a weathered old monster not nearly large enough to hold three (mostly) humans, a doctor, an octopus, and a storm.

Now, Killua’s used to the aches of old timber, the sighing winds of open plains, even the chill of winter creeping around the mantle. It reminds him that he’s not where he was. But more importantly, it reminds him that Gon’s around. The storm has trouble staying in one spot for very long, let alone trying to sleep like a normal person. So he roams the fields and the forests, and the winds howl after him. Maybe they chase him, but knowing Gon, he’s leading them around, exploring the nooks and crannies of the world. He might not be staying with Killua at night, but he won’t leave either. They’ve only known each other since summer, and Killua already can’t imagine a week going by without seeing his friend, without hearing his laughter or smelling the static of wet fields and thunder. It’s a strange comfort, hearing the creaking of the world at night and knowing it’s Gon. Strange, and new, and exciting in ways Killua isn’t sure he wants to explore yet.

Tonight, though. Tonight is silent, and Gon’s not around. So Killua can’t sleep.

At least Alluka can. His sister sighs softly, buried under a stack of quilts Palm dug out of the closet. The forecast said it was going to get cold, but neither Zoldyck was prepared for just how cold. Not this early in the season. Killua’s own pile is even thicker, but it’s not the cold he’s having a problem with.

His whole body shivers when his feet hit the icy wooden floor, and he wraps himself up in at least two of his blankets. The whole house is quiet, the only sound the creaking of the floorboards as he tiptoes out of the room. If he can’t sleep, he can at least borrow Palm’s cocoa tin while she’s not awake to chastise him about how much sugar he puts in his hot chocolate. He’s an adult, with a paying job and a solid following on social media. He can drink as much sugar as he likes.

Killua gets halfway down the stairs when a familiar frizz of static settles over his skin. He spins and nearly catches the hem of his quilts, hissing a curse as he struggles to not tumble down the stairs. Maybe it’s the magic his family buried in his blood, or maybe it’s being around the storm for too long, but Killua knows exactly where Gon is.

Worry drains out of his shoulders before he realizes he was carrying it. Not like Gon would leave. It’s silly to think that the house was quiet because Gon left. Gon would have said something first, because he’s loud and energetic and bleeds with his emotions. Killua never had anything to worry about.

...Hot cocoa comes first.

A pot of boiled water later, Killua follows the gentle static through the chilly air up to the roof. As the panel drops back to the shingles, the storm jolts up, smile bright enough to see even in the moonless night. “Killua!” he says, voice too loud for the silence.

Killua smiles despite himself. “Hey Gon. Can you give me a hand?”

A warm wind stirs around them both warningly. But this time Gon decides to not use a small tornado to lift Killua, instead taking both mugs of hot cocoa to let Killua scramble onto the tiles. “Why are you still awake?”

Killua shrugs, carefully rearranging the blankets around his shoulders so he can sit comfortably. “Couldn’t sleep. Why are you here tonight and not running off? And gimme my cocoa.”

“Didn’t feel like it,” Gon says, and hands over one of the mugs before taking a sip of his own. “This is a lot of sugar, Killua.”

“I can have as much sugar as I want. Not like I’m going to sleep anytime soon.” He takes a long slurp, ignoring how Gon snickers. “You don’t even try to sleep. I know storms don’t sleep, but you’re in a human body. Do you not want to try?”

“Maybe someday.” He leans against Killua, and his skin is unnaturally warm through his favorite jacket. “You seem to like it.”

“I don’t like it, but I have to. Sleep deprivation sucks.”

Gon hums, and the cold night air vibrates. “I could sleep with you?”

Killua spits out his cocoa. “That’s--Gon, there’s sleeping, and then there’s sleeping, and you don’t know… What are you--?”

Gon is laughing openly now, and a warm breeze wraps around both of them like an extra blanket. Killua decides storms are assholes. Or at least this one is. So he swipes the second mug of hot cocoa and downs it in a single go, glaring at Gon all the while.

The storm pouts. Killua does not notice how cute it is. Storms aren’t cute. At least, not this one. Kirk was cute, in a Tropical Storm funny postings from the national weather service sort of way. Anthropomorphic storms with constellations of freckles and big brown eyes and a laugh that makes Killua’s heart pound--those aren’t cute.

Vengeance exacted and hot cocoa gone, Killua settles back into his cocoon of blankets, and Gon returns to his spot at Killua’s side, head leaning against the quilts approximately around Killua’s shoulder. “I didn’t want to go to the forest tonight because the stars were talking,” Gon says.

Killua blinks. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“Exactly! They speak in silence, and sometimes you can figure out what they’re talking about. Listen.” Gon points up at the night sky. Stretched out above them is a canopy of stars, unblemished and bright against inky darkness. Some are brilliant, massive orbs of burning gas lightyears away but sparkling like gemstones. Others are scattered like dust, too far away to gather together. All of them are so far away. But above Killua, they almost seem close enough to touch.

He wonders what Gon hears in them.

“I can’t hear anything,” Killua finally whispers.

Gon nods. “That’s okay. I didn’t figure out how to listen to them for a long time, either.”

“Oh.”

They’re quiet awhile longer, Gon listening to the stars and Killua listening to the breeze. Up here, it’s easier to hear the gentle patterns of wind swirling around Gon, the storm’s summery warmth pulling at the evening chill. Occasionally, the shingles will tremble, or the half-plowed fields will rustle below. The night’s quiet, but not silent. Not with Gon around.

Killua is starting to doze when the storm laughs, a weirdly rueful noise that echoes through the roof, vibrating the shingles beneath them. “I’m awake,” he mutters.

“Oh, sorry, Killua.” There’s a strange look in Gon’s eyes, and not the sort of look where his sclera are bright gold. This look is practically human, piercing and patient and just a dash of nerves.

So Killua pokes him in the side, firmly. “Out with it,” he says. “You didn’t wake me up for nothing.”

“I didn’t mean to,” Gon says. He’s still staring at Killua with that weird look. His hands start to reach for something, but stop halfway there and tangle in the quilts. Killua can taste the static in the air, getting denser by the second. “Killua, can I kiss you?”

Whatever Killua had been expecting, that isn’t it. Gon’s always full of surprises--that he’s a storm, that he loves the world around him and always wants more out of it. He makes everyone around him look at the world differently, because Gon can’t help but see things sideways, or from far away, or from much too close. Gon is interesting. Has been since the day they met. It’s why their friendship became so strong so fast, and Killua’s been happy with it. But Killua never even considered that Gon might want more from Killua.

Not least because Killua wants to kiss Gon.

He wants to kiss Gon.

“Why?” he blurts, and immediately wishes he’d said anything else.

Gon shrugs, a small smile on his face. “I want to.”

Killua’s mouth opens and shuts without letting out any sound. Maybe he’s curious, one more human thing for the storm to learn. Has Gon even kissed anyone before? He must have, if he’s a storm, and he looks like he does, and at least he’s seen people kissing before. And Killua doesn’t want to just think about what it would be like, kissing someone made of wind and lightning and summer.

Would kissing Gon call down a storm? Would Killua even care if he’s struck by lightning again? He can handle it, magic channeling electricity through him like a battery. And if he can handle that, he can handle...

Gon’s smile wanes a little. “If you don’t want to, that’s okay,” he says. “I’m not--”

“Okay.”

Gon blinks, and his grin is back in full force. “Really?”

Killua shoves aside as much of his blankets as he can afford to, and covers the storm’s hands with his own. Almost immediately, a current runs between them, and the hair on the back of Killua’s neck stands straight up. “Yes, you idiot. Have you even done this before?”

As a response, Gon kisses him.

It’s incredibly chaste, barely the press of skin on skin. But Killua’s breath catches in his throat, unable to escape as their lips move gently against each other. Even if Gon’s never kissed anyone before, or has kissed as many people as Killua has, this is theirs. No one else could kiss a storm and fill their lungs with electricity, no one else would be stupid enough or brave enough or wanting enough. Killua wants to be the only one. A sudden wind curls around them, tugging at the blankets and sending Killua’s hair into immediate disarray. Like everything else about him, Gon’s kiss is warm, and his fingers tangle with Killua’s, grounding them to each other, a promise that he won’t go anywhere, at least for now.

They pull apart slowly. When Killua leans his forehead against Gon’s, a spark of static jumping from his skin to Gon’s and making the storm’s hair stand up even more than usual. And brighter than the starlight, Gon’s brown eyes are shot through with a burning, brilliant gold.

Small clouds drift and coil overhead, and Gon whispers, “Thanks, Killua.”

Killua coughs a broken laugh, his cheeks on fire. “Only you would thank someone for that. It’s just a kiss.”

“It’s not just a kiss!” Gon says.

Killua flops onto his back, using his quilts to soften the fall. Gon curls up against him, spiky hair tickling Killua’s chin and gold fading away from his eyes. But Killua can’t look away. “Then what’s it supposed to be?” he asks.

The storm turns back to the sky, a smile on his face and a chill in the air. “It’s a kiss from you, Killua.”

And Killua can hear the stars singing.

[damajority]

DaMajority Fresh Article https://www.damajority.com/banana-industry-hit-by-tropical-storm-kirk-saint-lucia-news/

Banana industry hit by Tropical Storm Kirk | Saint Lucia News

Banana industry hit by Tropical Storm Kirk

A COMPREHENSIVE DAMAGE REPORT IS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS.

A preliminary assessment of the damage to the agriculture sector following Tropical Storm Kirk  shows a 60 percent overall impact.

With between 85 to 90 percent of farmers in the north of the island feeling the brunt, the banana sub sector was hardest hit.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives, Hon. Ezechiel Joseph, who toured affected farms in the aftermath of the storm, said it was disheartening to witness the devastation, particularly as the industry was well on its way to recovery following the 2013 Christmas Eve Trough, and Hurricanes Tomas, Irma and Maria. He expressed concern that the damage to banana fields will discourage farmers and cause slippage in the numbers desirous of continuing in production.

This is a dilemma the industry has faced before, resulting in a significant loss to the pool of banana farmers. Through a vigorous incentive program, government has been able to draw farmers back in, and the minister is hoping that the support mechanism will sustain the industry post Tropical Storm Kirk.

Daniel Donovan a farmer from Bel Air lost his banana field to Tropical Storm Kirk, he is hoping to restore his livelihood with the help of the government. He would like to see an extension to the incentives scheme.

A comprehensive report on the damage caused by Tropical Storm Kirk is expected to be presented by the Cabinet of Ministers.

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 9/30/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Sunday September 30th 2018. Remember you can read full articles by purchasing Sunday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

BARBADOS' INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN A WOEFUL STATE – Barbados’ infrastructure is in a “woeful state,” and while the Government does not have the finances to deal with all the issues it will prioritize the critical needs, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has said. She made the comment following a day-long tour of flood-affected communities following the passage of Tropical Storm Kirk. The system dumped heavy rain on the island over a 12 hour period — from Thursday night into the wee hours of Friday morning.  “The . . . truth is that we have found a deficit in the country’s infrastructure. Our country’s infrastructure is in a woeful state and we need to be able to deal with it. We don’t have the money to deal with all at once but we have to prioritize what we need to and between the various ministries we are going to go after it systematically. “We also have some development work that we have to do with respect to loans that will be critical,” Mottley who was accompanied by several Cabinet Ministers and other officials told reporters. She further explained that the biggest claim on public infrastructure was water and sewage, followed by drainage and roads. “You can’t ignore [the] infrastructure for as long as we have been ignoring it and expect that it is still going to function in the same way. So when we say sometimes to people that we are focusing on needs, and not wants, it’s because we understand that the needs of the country in terms of public spaces is able to avert drainage problems . . . able to avert flooding . . . able to avert problems with the roads . . . . All of these things are as a result of a lack of attention to detail and not prioritizing how we spend public money,” Mottley added. The Prime Minister who arrived in the country early this morning, after cutting short her attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said her administration and other Government agencies will meet on Monday afternoon to get formal reports on the level of damage done by Tropical Storm Kirk. “The problems that we have are not insurmountable but we have to deal with them. In some cases there were fixes that can be dealt with immediately by the Ministry of Public Works and the Drainage Division. In other cases we will have to assist those that have been very badly affected through the Government agencies that are set up to do that. In other cases we will need to have more medium term to long term solutions,” the Prime Minister said even as she urged residents to keep their surroundings clean. “I want to be able to meet with Cabinet for us to discuss how we can have a better decentralized system where communities and households, and not just Government, can help us in this effort to be able to keep Barbados clean,” she revealed. Mottley also disclosed plans for a “major national preparation exercise” when the 2018 hurricane season comes to a close. “We are not waiting until next June because these things are affecting too many people and in ways that are substantive. So early in the new year we are going to have some . . . simulation exercises . . . .because the bottom line is that if we don’t take care of each other in preparing for this, then what happened in other jurisdictions will cause too many people regrettably to die. Most people don’t die from the water itself, they die from the consequences of it and then the other big problem afterwards is security. So these are the things that we have to get right,” the Prime Minister explained. (BT)

HIGHER FEES LIKELY – Increased user fees and staff cuts could be in the offing as local banks and insurance companies seek to recoup their losses suffered under Government’s debt restructuring programme. That programme offers to swap Government’s financial instruments on which it has defaulted – Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes, debentures, bonds and loans – for new debt instruments which maintain payment of creditors’ principal, but will pay less interest and take longer to mature. Though president of the Barbados Bankers Association Donna Wellington said she was “not at liberty to discuss this at this time”, veteran banker Harold Russell said the banks are incurring heavy losses from the debt restructuring and would seek to recoup that money. “They will try to make it up . . . by increasing their fees, by reducing their branches, by reducing their staff, by improving on their computerisation; things like that,” said Russell.  (SS)

GOVT STARTS TALKS WITH DEBTORS - Government has started to have preliminary discussions with several entities it is indebted to. Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn told the Sunday Sun that after these discussions reach an advanced stage, priority would be given to repayment but it would be a phased process since the country is $1.2 billion in debt, dozens of agencies are owed, and the adjustment period under the Barbados Economic Recovery Transformation (BERT) programme is underway. The minister was reluctant to provide a list of the entities owed, saying they wanted to treat to the debt as equitably as possible.  “The truth is the debt is over a billion dollars. The Government owes almost everyone in Barbados,” he admitted. (SS)

NEW NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD – The chairman of the National Insurance Board is Ian Gooding-Edghill, while Professor Avinash Persaud is the deputy. Queen’s Counsel Leslie Haynes, and a representative each from the Barbados Workers’ Union, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, and the Barbados Employers’ Confederation are members. In addition, the Chief Labour Officer, the Director of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Permanent Secretary (Finance) in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment, or their nominee, are on the Board. The board has been appointed for a period of two years, with effect from July 1. (BGIS)

SENATOR WIGGINS TAKES OATH – Independent Senator Alphea Margot Wiggins says her new position is a testimony to how far women have come in earning political positions. Wiggins, the outgoing deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, was sworn in yesterday at Government House, Pine Hill, St Michael, 117 days after the other six Independent senators took their oaths of office on Monday, June 4. Yesterday, after the brief ceremony, Wiggins said:  “It is a privilege to be chosen by Her Excellency[Governor General Dame Sandra Mason] to serve. “And over the years, the number of women in key positions has been increasing. Women, in general, have been taking leading roles here in Barbados, but we women are coming of age,” she said. General secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore, attorneys-at-law Monique Taitt and Kevin John Boyce, Reverend Michael Bruce St John Maxwell, Lindell Elon Nurse and Christopher Maynard were the other Barbadians selected by the Governor General to be Independent senators. (BGIS)

BAR BATTLE - The fight for determining if compulsory membership to the Bar Association is unconstitutional is just getting started. That’s because former Bar Association president Tariq Khan, on behalf of his client who he did not want to identify, last week filed an application to the High Court seeking leave to appeal a recent decision by High Court judge Pamela Beckles. In a 19-page judgement handed down by Beckles last month, she had ruled that no law, inclusive of the Legal Profession Act, was more supreme than the Constitution, which provides a freedom to associate, thus determining that compulsory membership to the Bar Association was in itself, unconstitutional. Khan plans to challenge that without a doubt.  (SS)

TEEN CHARGED IN SHOOTING INCIDENT – Eighteen-year-old Mahindra Alexander Thomas of Redman Road, Deacons, St Michael has been charged in connection with last week's shooting incident in New Orleans, St Michael.  Thomas is expected to appear in the District "A" Magistrates' Court today charged with unlawful use of a firearm, use of a firearm without a license and three counts of criminal damage all allegedly occurring between September 23 and 24, 2018 at New Orleans.   One woman was slightly injured in the incident in which police said a number of spent shells from various firearms was recovered.   Investigations are continuing into the matter and police are appealing to anyone with information that can assist in solving the matter to contact them.  They are asked to contact police Major Crime Department at 430-7193 or police emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 or the nearest police station. The police are reminding members of the public that it is a serious us offence to harbour or assist wanted persons. Anyone caught committing the offence can be prosecuted. (SS)

BIG PARADE TO END TOURISM WEEK - Tourism Week ended with a bang on as thousands danced and sang through the streets of Bridgetown on Saturday morning.  The parade highlighted numerous elements of Barbados’ tourism product including our hotels, beaches and Crop Over.  It left Queen's Park around 10:30 a.m, led by the Barbados Defence Force Band and featured performers from groups. They included cheerleaders, excited masqueraders, jet ski operators and representatives of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and the Grantley and Adams International Airport.  The event ended at Independence Square with a prize-giving ceremony.  (SS)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 93 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

[j7409]

Tropical Update with J7409 Kirk and Rosa Thurs AM 9/27/18

[meteorologistjoecioffi]

Tropical Storm Kirk Strengthens 60 MPH Warnings Leeward Islands

Tropical Storm Kirk Strengthens 60 MPH Warnings Leeward Islands

TROPICAL STORM KIRK HEADING TOWARD SOUTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS POSTED WINDS INCREASED TO 60 MPH

SUMMARY OF 200 PM AST…1800 UTC…INFORMATION ———————————————- LOCATION…12.5N 55.0W ABOUT 305 MI…495 KM E OF BARBADOS ABOUT 430 MI…695 KM ESE OF MARTINIQUE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH…95 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 280 DEGREES AT 18 MPH…30 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…998 MB…29.47 INCHES

[ericwilsonweather]

Kirk...another storm to hit the United States? Too soon...

Kirk…another storm to hit the United States? Too soon…

Is Kirk an issue? Not yet…

Right now it’s something to track and keep an eye on for sure, yet let’s break things down.

Today’s video does explains the details at the time of the recording, here is the latest Satellite that continues to show possible strengthening (just look at Kirk’s forward portion and movement, the more white on black you see the stronger Kirk will get)

Where is everything right…

[bountyofbeads]

How to Help Hurricane Dorian Survivors in the Bahamas https://nyti.ms/34gfarn

Bahamas Relief Efforts Frustrated as Dorian Pulls Away

By Kirk Semple, Rachel Knowles and Frances Robles |Published Sept. 3, 2019 Updated Sept. 4, 2019, 12:32 p.m. ET | New York Times | Posted September 4, 2019 2:14 PM ET |

NASSAU, Bahamas — As Hurricane Dorian pulled away from the Bahamas, relief workers, medical personnel, pilots and others gathered at a private terminal of the Nassau airport on Wednesday amid boxes of supplies, anxiously awaiting permission from the government to fly to devastated areas and provide assistance.

But with most of the runways on Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama — the islands most heavily pummeled by the storm — flooded or covered in sand, it was difficult to deliver help or even assess the damage wrought by the storm. In addition, the government has given priority to helicopter evacuations.

“It is frustrating,” said Wes Comfort, director of operations for Heart to Heart International, a Kansas-based group. “There are people who want to help and professionals who know how to help.”

Dorian made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on Sunday, then lingered, pummeling the northern islands of the Bahamian archipelago for more than three days. At least seven people have died, including children, government officials said, adding that the toll is expected to rise. Now a Category 2 storm, Dorian is heading toward the Eastern Seaboard.

Despite the limited access to the islands, pilots have conducted flyovers revealing scenes of absolute devastation. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to unrecognizable fields of rubble, houses were crushed into splinters and boats were tossed into heaps like toys.

The Bahamian prime minister, Hubert Minnis, was able to go on a reconnaissance mission over Abaco on Tuesday afternoon, though storm conditions still prevented flying over Grand Bahama, the larger island.

“People need mostly food, security and shelter,” Mr. Minnis said in brief comments to reporters when he returned.

Videos taken by helicopters flying over the islands showed desperate residents stranded on rooftops amid swirling currents, roads turned to rivers, and basic infrastructure — including shelters, hospitals and public buildings — under water.

“It’s not just the power and ferocity of the storm, it’s also the length of time it spent over Abaco and Grand Bahama,” said Marvin Dames, the minister of national security for the Bahamas. “That’s a disastrous outcome.”

The deputy commander for the United States Coast Guard’s Altantic area, Rear Adm. Todd Sokalzuk, said on Tuesday they had brought seven helicopters into the central Bahamas. The Coast Guard, together with Customs and Border Patrol, were able to airlift 61 people from the Bahamas over two days, the United States Embassy in Nassau said on Twitter Wednesday.

The prime minister said that roughly 60 percent of homes in Marsh Harbour were badly damaged. The town “looks like a lake” and the roads are flooded, he said.

Cindy Russell, a resident of Marsh Harbour whose home was destroyed, said she had no words to describe what Dorian left in its wake.

“It’s like we just need to be rescued and put on another island to start over again,” she said. “Complete devastation.”

Rebecca Roberts, who lives in Nassau but grew up on Green Turtle Cay, which is part of the Abaco Islands, said her family there suffered heavy losses. The extended family had 12 buildings among them, between businesses and homes. Of the four they had been able to check up on, three were completely demolished.

The one building that stood, which was made of cement, was housing the entire family, she said.

“My aunt was out in the road picking up pieces from her house,” she said.

Though the weakened hurricane is pushing its way toward Florida, it did not clear the islands until early Wednesday.

“Storm surge is the number one killer in a tropical storm,” said Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, speaking of the rising sea level that results from the wind and pressure changes brought on by a storm.

In Freeport, the largest city on Grand Bahama, Sarah Kirkby watched helplessly as a massive tidal flood poured in and inundated her house.

“It was absolutely terrifying,” she said. “I have never seen water come in like that. You don’t realize the power until you’re in it.”

Some local rescue efforts began on Tuesday, she said, as the water began to recede, with neighbors manning Jet Skis to rescue people trapped on their roofs — but it was unclear where they might go, since many shelters were also flooded or damaged by the storm.

All of the rescues on Abaco were conducted by the Coast Guard, which also provided the prime minister and Bahamas emergency management officials with their first flyover to assess the damages. But with conditions on Grand Bahama too poor for even military helicopters, the Coast Guard attempted no rescues there.

Rear Adm. Todd Sokalzuk said officials still had a “large volume” of calls for help from people stranded on their rooftops.

[Live updates as the storm turns toward the southeast coast of the United States.]

Responders were trying to take advantage of a window of opportunity after the eye passed over Grand Bahama to try to rescue people, but many police cruisers and other emergency vehicles were under water.

“Some of the bigger vehicles, dump trucks and fire engines, are trying to get through the water,” Kevin D. Harris, director general of the Bahamas Information Service, said. “Grand Bahama is flat, and you can imagine the devastation we are going to incur.”

There was so much water that government offices, including the government radio station, had to leave their lower floors.

The islands in the northwestern Bahamas that were hit the hardest — the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama — are 30 feet at their highest point, and the storm surge reached up to 23 feet, not counting the waves, said Joel Cline, the Tropical Program Coordinator at NOAA.

Photographs from flights over Abaco show trees sheared of limbs and leaves and saltwater ponds covering swaths of land where homes once stood. Some houses had their roofs ripped clean off, while others were reduced to piles of debris mired in water. All around, a rough ocean lapped at the low-lying islands.

The Grand Lucayan Resort and Casino on Grand Bahama had opened its doors to those who needed shelter, said Michael Scott, who is the chairman of the government-owned hotel.

“It’s a catastrophic and dystopian mess,” he said on Tuesday, estimating that more than 400 people were now being cared for at the hotel. “Other shelters which have been compromised are having their people decanted into our facility.”

How to Help Hurricane Dorian Survivors in the Bahamas

By Elisabeth Malkin | Published Sept. 3, 2019 | New York Times | Posted September 4, 2019 2:18 PM ET |

Hurricane Dorian struck the northern Bahamas as a Category 5 hurricane on Sunday and stalled over the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island for two days. The destructive winds, torrential rains and relentless flooding has likely destroyed more than 10,000 homes and wiped out much of the infrastructure, especially in the Abacos.

Aid experts say there will be immediate emergency needs before the long, arduous task of rebuilding begins.

Several organizations are working in the Bahamas:

The Red Cross has 200 volunteers in the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama. Shelter, food, water, medicine and communications are the most urgent needs, said Stephen McAndrew, the deputy director for the Americas of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

“All shelter materials are going to be highly needed,” he said. “We know that there will be a need for psychological support. That will continue.”

Global Giving has established the Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund to provide emergency supplies and long-term assistance to help in rebuilding.

World Central Kitchen, set up by the chef José Andrés, provides food to people after natural disasters. Mr. Andrés and a relief team have arrived in Nassau, the capital, and have begun to identify places where they can set up kitchens on the affected islands.

HeadKnowles is a Bahamian organization that organized relief operations during Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Joaquin in 2015. They have set up a site through Go Fund Me.

Yacht Aid Global has set up “Operation Topaz” to bring emergency supplies like food, tarps, hygiene kits and medicine to Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands. The organization works with yachts in the region to coordinate support.

Team Rubicon, an organization of military veterans that provides disaster relief, is in the Bahamas.

Charity Navigator offers this list of reputable charities that are working in the Bahamas.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said people wishing to help could donate to the Salvation Army, which works closely with the government’s National Emergency Management Agency.

Waterkeeper Alliance, a charity that works with local partners to preserve water ecosystems and fight for clean water, is taking donations on behalf of its affiliate in Grand Bahama, Save the Bays. Type in “Bahamas” on its donation site.

The Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation was set up by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, which acts as the municipal authority for Freeport, the main city on the island. The site offers suggestions on how to help, including several addresses where donors can drop off supplies in the United States.

Hurricane Dorian Tests Florida’s Ability to Move Older Adults Out of Harm’s Way

By Patricia Mazzei, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Richard Fausset |

Published Sept. 3, 2019 Updated Sept. 4, 2019, 12:10 p.m. ET | New York Times | Posted September 4, 2019 2:15 PM ET

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — As the outer bands of Hurricane Dorian began brushing the Florida coast on Tuesday, a woman raced to pick up her mother-in-law at a retirement community, where the elevator was about to be shut down. The staff of a nursing home packed up more than 200 residents as well as the supplies they might need: cases of water, air mattresses and board games. At another center, residents were evacuated in specialty ambulances, rented motor coaches and private vehicles.

Across the state, a scramble was underway to move older Floridians to safer ground as a weakened but still dangerous Hurricane Dorian, once a Category 5 storm but now a vast Category 2, threatened the state’s Atlantic coast.

[Follow live updates on Hurricane Dorian here.]

The last major storm to hit the state was foremost in officials’ minds. When Hurricane Irma came ashore two years ago, a dozen patients died after a nursing home in Hollywood, Fla., lost its air-conditioning. The tragedy prompted new regulations and an acknowledgment that evacuation orders were not enough to protect the state’s large older population. When it comes to older people, no state has more retirees than Florida, where they make up one-fifth of the population, according to the AARP.

A new state law requires backup generators and enough fuel to maintain comfortable temperatures at nursing homes and assisted living centers, a mandate first tested last year when Hurricane Michael struck the Florida Panhandle. Last week, four nursing home workers were charged in the Hurricane Irma deaths, which were ruled homicides.

At the Towers of Jacksonville, a retirement community in Jacksonville, Fla., officials advised residents with just a few hours’ notice that it would disable its elevator on Monday afternoon. That would have left Lois Evelin, 72, unable to get downstairs unless someone carried her, said her daughter-in-law, Ester Evelin, who rushed to pick her up earlier than she had planned.

“It was a little frustrating, because we were still trying to get our place hurricane-ready,” said Ms. Evelin, 45, whose mother-in-law is now safely at home with her, her husband and their son in Neptune Beach. “But there are a few people that had to stay because they didn’t have any family near that could get to them in time.”

North of Florida, the worry, preparations and evacuations for Hurricane Dorian’s next possible targets could be found for hundreds of miles up the coast. Meteorologists warned that the storm could bring tornadoes, life-threatening storm surges and dangerous winds along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas into Thursday.

In Georgia, a mandatory evacuation order was in effect for coastal counties.

In South Carolina, an evacuation order was issued for all or part of eight coastal counties, an area whose population is roughly 830,000. Gov. Henry McMaster told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that 244,000 people had already left the region.

In North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said he would issue an evacuation order for all of the state’s barrier islands.

Some 190,000 people live in Florida nursing homes and assisted living centers, most of them in the state’s southeastern tip. Patrick Manderfield, a spokesman for the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration, said on Monday that all but 42 of the state’s 3,062 licensed assisted living centers had an on-site generator. Five centers had emergency plans to evacuate “if needed,” he said in an email.

Nursing homes, which tend to be larger and have more beds than assisted living centers, are a different story. Reuters reported on Friday that some nursing homes were still waiting for temporary generators, though a state website  suggested that they might have all been supplied by Monday afternoon. The Miami Herald reported last week that nearly 60 percent of the state’s 687 nursing homes did not yet have enough power backup.

Large centers for elderly residents who require constant care have put complex emergency plans into action. Among them was the Samantha Wilson Care Center in St. Augustine, Fla., which is near the Intracoastal Waterway. Fearing a dangerously high storm surge, the center evacuated its 126 residents to three separate facilities in Orlando and DeLand, said Shellye Nutter, vice president for clinical and residential services in the center’s skilled nursing unit.

The residents in more delicate health traveled in specialty ambulances. Other traveled in rented motor coaches, sometimes with caregivers and relatives in tow. Clearing out the entire center took all of Monday, Ms. Nutter said.

“They’re the most vulnerable population — they’re totally dependent on us for care,” she said.

About four dozen residents temporarily settled into the Orlando Lutheran Towers, a community with skilled nursing and assisted living centers. Amy Dickens, the director of nursing, said it was the first time that the center was taking in evacuees, so it stocked up on extra food, mattresses and clinical staff to support the caregivers coming in from St. Augustine.

“If you’re taking an elderly patient from their normal room to transport them to another facility where they’re maybe on a bed or a mattress, you just try to make it the best atmosphere,” she said.

At the Good Samaritan Society’s retirement home in DeLand, nearly 400 residents milled about in a building that until Sunday had housed about 150. They bit their nails, worked on crossword puzzles or dozed as a television showed a local newscast featuring footage of waves crashing on Cocoa Beach. Water and stacks of fans sat nearby, and in another room a group of women were filling in outlines of hummingbirds with paintbrushes.

Administrators said they had moved 237 residents to the home in buses and ambulances because of mandatory evacuation orders that included Good Samaritan’s homes in Daytona Beach and Kissimmee.

It was a far cry from two summers ago, when a last-minute evacuation stretched past nightfall before flooding from Hurricane Irma submerged golf carts, soaked rooms and caused $500 million in damage at the nursing home. During that storm, many residents were moved to local shelters.

“Here we have sunshine and nice sky,” said Mark Barglof, the executive director of the group’s three Florida locations. “Before, we had floodwater and were working into the night.”

Nate Schema, vice president for operations of the Good Samaritan Society, flew from the organization’s headquarters in South Dakota to keep an eye on the storm. He said the nursing home was lucky to have just completed a new, 80-unit wing, most of which was sitting vacant before the evacuations.

“The good Lord had a little hand in pulling that together,” he said.

Most residents on Tuesday said they felt safe and were thankful for the care they were getting, even if the move to DeLand was a hassle and they had to sleep on air mattresses.

Melanie Gentry, a retired member of the Air Force, was at the nursing home on Tuesday with her mother and father. She said that while her family had been prepared to leave for Hurricane Irma, she was grateful there was more notice this time.

During past storms, they grabbed only important documents and an heirloom or two and put everything else on high shelves, Ms. Gentry said.

“Now, you have so much time you have to stop yourself because you can’t take everything,” she said with a laugh.

For older people who live alone, storms also present a challenge. Sometimes, they also need a nudge from a friend or relative to get out of harm’s way.

PeggyAnn Cromartie, 72, left her home in the inland Palm Beach County town of Pahokee, Fla., after a friend in South Carolina encouraged her to make a plan to avoid getting stuck in case of an emergency.

“I wanted to be safe, because you never know what may happen,” said Ms. Cromartie, who evacuated to the West Boynton Park and Recreation Center in Lake Worth, Fla., on Sunday. “It’s not really scary, but I thought about the flooding or the lights going out.”

Randye Carol Pollack, 68, of Boynton Beach, Fla., said she feared her 30-year-old apartment building might not fare well in a strong storm but planned to stay if she could not find accommodation with her parakeet, Sweet Pea. That did not prove to be a problem: The pet shelter had an area set aside for birds.

Patricia Mazzei reported from West Palm Beach; Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs from DeLand, Fla.; and Richard Fausset from Atlanta. Susan C. Beachy contributed research.

[livmoose]

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Willy Pogany ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, illustration, 1915

Argument

How a Ship having passed the Line was driven by storms to the cold Country towards the South Pole; and how from thence she made her course to the tropical Latitude of the Great Pacific Ocean; and of the strange things that befell; and in what manner the Ancyent Marinere came back to his own Country.

PART I 

It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. 'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?

The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide, And I am next of kin; The guests are met, the feast is set: May'st hear the merry din.'

He holds him with his skinny hand, 'There was a ship,' quoth he. 'Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!' Eftsoons his hand dropt he.

He holds him with his glittering eye— The Wedding-Guest stood still, And listens like a three years' child: The Mariner hath his will.

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner.

'The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, Merrily did we drop Below the kirk, below the hill, Below the lighthouse top.

The Sun came up upon the left, Out of the sea came he! And he shone bright, and on the right Went down into the sea.

Higher and higher every day, Till over the mast at noon—' The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast, For he heard the loud bassoon.

The bride hath paced into the hall, Red as a rose is she; Nodding their heads before her goes The merry minstrelsy.

The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast, Yet he cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner.

And now the STORM-BLAST came, and he Was tyrannous and strong: He struck with his o'ertaking wings, And chased us south along.

With sloping masts and dipping prow, As who pursued with yell and blow Still treads the shadow of his foe, And forward bends his head, The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast, And southward aye we fled.

And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold: And ice, mast-high, came floating by, As green as emerald.

And through the drifts the snowy clifts Did send a dismal sheen: Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken— The ice was all between.

The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound!

At length did cross an Albatross, Thorough the fog it came; As if it had been a Christian soul, We hailed it in God's name.

It ate the food it ne'er had eat, And round and round it flew. The ice did split with a thunder-fit; The helmsman steered us through!

And a good south wind sprung up behind; The Albatross did follow, And every day, for food or play, Came to the mariner's hollo!

In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud, It perched for vespers nine; Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white, Glimmered the white Moon-shine.'

'God save thee, ancient Mariner! From the fiends, that plague thee thus!— Why look'st thou so?'—With my cross-bow I shot the ALBATROSS.

PART II

The Sun now rose upon the right: Out of the sea came he, Still hid in mist, and on the left Went down into the sea.

And the good south wind still blew behind, But no sweet bird did follow, Nor any day for food or play Came to the mariner's hollo!

And I had done a hellish thing, And it would work 'em woe: For all averred, I had killed the bird That made the breeze to blow. Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay, That made the breeze to blow!

Nor dim nor red, like God's own head, The glorious Sun uprist: Then all averred, I had killed the bird That brought the fog and mist. 'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, That bring the fog and mist.

The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea.

Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down, 'Twas sad as sad could be; And we did speak only to break The silence of the sea!

All in a hot and copper sky, The bloody Sun, at noon, Right up above the mast did stand, No bigger than the Moon.

Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.

The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.

About, about, in reel and rout The death-fires danced at night; The water, like a witch's oils, Burnt green, and blue and white.

And some in dreams assurèd were Of the Spirit that plagued us so; Nine fathom deep he had followed us From the land of mist and snow.

And every tongue, through utter drought, Was withered at the root; We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot.

Ah! well a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.

PART III

There passed a weary time. Each throat Was parched, and glazed each eye. A weary time! a weary time! How glazed each weary eye,

When looking westward, I beheld A something in the sky.

At first it seemed a little speck, And then it seemed a mist; It moved and moved, and took at last A certain shape, I wist.

A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared and neared: As if it dodged a water-sprite, It plunged and tacked and veered.

With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, We could nor laugh nor wail; Through utter drought all dumb we stood! I bit my arm, I sucked the blood, And cried, A sail! a sail!

With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, Agape they heard me call: Gramercy! they for joy did grin, And all at once their breath drew in. As they were drinking all.

See! see! (I cried) she tacks no more! Hither to work us weal; Without a breeze, without a tide, She steadies with upright keel!

The western wave was all a-flame. The day was well nigh done! Almost upon the western wave Rested the broad bright Sun; When that strange shape drove suddenly Betwixt us and the Sun.

And straight the Sun was flecked with bars, (Heaven's Mother send us grace!) As if through a dungeon-grate he peered With broad and burning face.

Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud) How fast she nears and nears! Are those her sails that glance in the Sun, Like restless gossameres?

Are those her ribs through which the Sun Did peer, as through a grate? And is that Woman all her crew? Is that a DEATH? and are there two? Is DEATH that woman's mate?

Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was as white as leprosy, The Night-mare LIFE-IN-DEATH was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold.

The naked hulk alongside came, And the twain were casting dice; 'The game is done! I've won! I've won!' Quoth she, and whistles thrice.

The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush out; At one stride comes the dark; With far-heard whisper, o'er the sea, Off shot the spectre-bark.

We listened and looked sideways up! Fear at my heart, as at a cup, My life-blood seemed to sip! The stars were dim, and thick the night, The steersman's face by his lamp gleamed white; From the sails the dew did drip— Till clomb above the eastern bar The hornèd Moon, with one bright star Within the nether tip.

One after one, by the star-dogged Moon, Too quick for groan or sigh, Each turned his face with a ghastly pang, And cursed me with his eye.

Four times fifty living men, (And I heard nor sigh nor groan) With heavy thump, a lifeless lump, They dropped down one by one.

The souls did from their bodies fly,— They fled to bliss or woe! And every soul, it passed me by, Like the whizz of my cross-bow!

PART IV

'I fear thee, ancient Mariner! I fear thy skinny hand! And thou art long, and lank, and brown, As is the ribbed sea-sand.

I fear thee and thy glittering eye, And thy skinny hand, so brown.'— Fear not, fear not, thou Wedding-Guest! This body dropt not down.

Alone, alone, all, all alone, Alone on a wide wide sea! And never a saint took pity on My soul in agony.

The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I.

I looked upon the rotting sea, And drew my eyes away; I looked upon the rotting deck, And there the dead men lay.

I looked to heaven, and tried to pray; But or ever a prayer had gusht, A wicked whisper came, and made My heart as dry as dust.

I closed my lids, and kept them close, And the balls like pulses beat; For the sky and the sea, and the sea and the sky Lay dead like a load on my weary eye, And the dead were at my feet.

The cold sweat melted from their limbs, Nor rot nor reek did they: The look with which they looked on me Had never passed away.

An orphan's curse would drag to hell A spirit from on high; But oh! more horrible than that Is the curse in a dead man's eye! Seven days, seven nights, I saw that curse, And yet I could not die.

The moving Moon went up the sky, And no where did abide: Softly she was going up, And a star or two beside—

Her beams bemocked the sultry main, Like April hoar-frost spread; But where the ship's huge shadow lay, The charmèd water burnt alway A still and awful red.

Beyond the shadow of the ship, I watched the water-snakes: They moved in tracks of shining white, And when they reared, the elfish light Fell off in hoary flakes.

Within the shadow of the ship I watched their rich attire: Blue, glossy green, and velvet black, They coiled and swam; and every track Was a flash of golden fire.

O happy living things! no tongue Their beauty might declare: A spring of love gushed from my heart, And I blessed them unaware: Sure my kind saint took pity on me, And I blessed them unaware.

The self-same moment I could pray; And from my neck so free The Albatross fell off, and sank Like lead into the sea.

PART V

Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing, Beloved from pole to pole! To Mary Queen the praise be given! She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven, That slid into my soul.

The silly buckets on the deck, That had so long remained, I dreamt that they were filled with dew; And when I awoke, it rained.

My lips were wet, my throat was cold, My garments all were dank; Sure I had drunken in my dreams, And still my body drank.

I moved, and could not feel my limbs: I was so light—almost I thought that I had died in sleep, And was a blessed ghost.

And soon I heard a roaring wind: It did not come anear; But with its sound it shook the sails, That were so thin and sere.

The upper air burst into life! And a hundred fire-flags sheen, To and fro they were hurried about! And to and fro, and in and out, The wan stars danced between.

And the coming wind did roar more loud, And the sails did sigh like sedge, And the rain poured down from one black cloud; The Moon was at its edge.

The thick black cloud was cleft, and still The Moon was at its side: Like waters shot from some high crag, The lightning fell with never a jag, A river steep and wide.

The loud wind never reached the ship, Yet now the ship moved on! Beneath the lightning and the Moon The dead men gave a groan.

They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, Nor spake, nor moved their eyes; It had been strange, even in a dream, To have seen those dead men rise.

The helmsman steered, the ship moved on; Yet never a breeze up-blew; The mariners all 'gan work the ropes, Where they were wont to do; They raised their limbs like lifeless tools— We were a ghastly crew.

The body of my brother's son Stood by me, knee to knee: The body and I pulled at one rope, But he said nought to me.

'I fear thee, ancient Mariner!' Be calm, thou Wedding-Guest! 'Twas not those souls that fled in pain, Which to their corses came again, But a troop of spirits blest:

For when it dawned—they dropped their arms, And clustered round the mast; Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, And from their bodies passed.

Around, around, flew each sweet sound, Then darted to the Sun; Slowly the sounds came back again, Now mixed, now one by one.

Sometimes a-dropping from the sky I heard the sky-lark sing; Sometimes all little birds that are, How they seemed to fill the sea and air With their sweet jargoning!

And now 'twas like all instruments, Now like a lonely flute; And now it is an angel's song, That makes the heavens be mute.

It ceased; yet still the sails made on A pleasant noise till noon, A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune.

Till noon we quietly sailed on, Yet never a breeze did breathe: Slowly and smoothly went the ship, Moved onward from beneath.

Under the keel nine fathom deep, From the land of mist and snow, The spirit slid: and it was he That made the ship to go. The sails at noon left off their tune, And the ship stood still also.

The Sun, right up above the mast, Had fixed her to the ocean: But in a minute she 'gan stir, With a short uneasy motion— Backwards and forwards half her length With a short uneasy motion.

Then like a pawing horse let go, She made a sudden bound: It flung the blood into my head, And I fell down in a swound.

How long in that same fit I lay, I have not to declare; But ere my living life returned, I heard and in my soul discerned Two voices in the air.

'Is it he?' quoth one, 'Is this the man? By him who died on cross, With his cruel bow he laid full low The harmless Albatross.

The spirit who bideth by himself In the land of mist and snow, He loved the bird that loved the man Who shot him with his bow.'

The other was a softer voice, As soft as honey-dew: Quoth he, 'The man hath penance done, And penance more will do.'

PART VI

First Voice 'But tell me, tell me! speak again, Thy soft response renewing— What makes that ship drive on so fast? What is the ocean doing?'

Second Voice Still as a slave before his lord, The ocean hath no blast; His great bright eye most silently Up to the Moon is cast—

If he may know which way to go; For she guides him smooth or grim. See, brother, see! how graciously She looketh down on him.'

First Voice 'But why drives on that ship so fast, Without or wave or wind?'

Second Voice 'The air is cut away before, And closes from behind.

Fly, brother, fly! more high, more high! Or we shall be belated: For slow and slow that ship will go, When the Mariner's trance is abated.'

I woke, and we were sailing on As in a gentle weather: 'Twas night, calm night, the moon was high; The dead men stood together.

All stood together on the deck, For a charnel-dungeon fitter: All fixed on me their stony eyes, That in the Moon did glitter.

The pang, the curse, with which they died, Had never passed away: I could not draw my eyes from theirs, Nor turn them up to pray.

And now this spell was snapt: once more I viewed the ocean green, And looked far forth, yet little saw Of what had else been seen—

Like one, that on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread, And having once turned round walks on, And turns no more his head; Because he knows, a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread.

But soon there breathed a wind on me, Nor sound nor motion made: Its path was not upon the sea, In ripple or in shade.

It raised my hair, it fanned my cheek Like a meadow-gale of spring— It mingled strangely with my fears, Yet it felt like a welcoming.

Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship, Yet she sailed softly too: Sweetly, sweetly blew the breeze— On me alone it blew.

Oh! dream of joy! is this indeed The light-house top I see? Is this the hill? is this the kirk? Is this mine own countree?

We drifted o'er the harbour-bar, And I with sobs did pray— O let me be awake, my God! Or let me sleep alway.

The harbour-bay was clear as glass, So smoothly it was strewn! And on the bay the moonlight lay, And the shadow of the Moon.

The rock shone bright, the kirk no less, That stands above the rock: The moonlight steeped in silentness The steady weathercock.

And the bay was white with silent light, Till rising from the same, Full many shapes, that shadows were, In crimson colours came.

A little distance from the prow Those crimson shadows were: I turned my eyes upon the deck— Oh, Christ! what saw I there!

Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat, And, by the holy rood! A man all light, a seraph-man, On every corse there stood.

This seraph-band, each waved his hand: It was a heavenly sight! They stood as signals to the land, Each one a lovely light;

This seraph-band, each waved his hand, No voice did they impart— No voice; but oh! the silence sank Like music on my heart.

But soon I heard the dash of oars, I heard the Pilot's cheer; My head was turned perforce away And I saw a boat appear.

The Pilot and the Pilot's boy, I heard them coming fast: Dear Lord in Heaven! it was a joy The dead men could not blast.

I saw a third—I heard his voice: It is the Hermit good! He singeth loud his godly hymns That he makes in the wood. He'll shrieve my soul, he'll wash away The Albatross's blood.

PART VII

This Hermit good lives in that wood Which slopes down to the sea. How loudly his sweet voice he rears! He loves to talk with marineres That come from a far countree.

He kneels at morn, and noon, and eve— He hath a cushion plump: It is the moss that wholly hides The rotted old oak-stump.

The skiff-boat neared: I heard them talk, 'Why, this is strange, I trow! Where are those lights so many and fair, That signal made but now?'

'Strange, by my faith!' the Hermit said— 'And they answered not our cheer! The planks looked warped! and see those sails, How thin they are and sere! I never saw aught like to them, Unless perchance it were

Brown skeletons of leaves that lag My forest-brook along; When the ivy-tod is heavy with snow, And the owlet whoops to the wolf below, That eats the she-wolf's young.'

'Dear Lord! it hath a fiendish look— (The Pilot made reply) I am a-feared'—'Push on, push on!' Said the Hermit cheerily.

The boat came closer to the ship, But I nor spake nor stirred; The boat came close beneath the ship, And straight a sound was heard.

Under the water it rumbled on, Still louder and more dread: It reached the ship, it split the bay; The ship went down like lead.

Stunned by that loud and dreadful sound, Which sky and ocean smote, Like one that hath been seven days drowned My body lay afloat; But swift as dreams, myself I found Within the Pilot's boat.

Upon the whirl, where sank the ship, The boat spun round and round; And all was still, save that the hill Was telling of the sound.

I moved my lips—the Pilot shrieked And fell down in a fit; The holy Hermit raised his eyes, And prayed where he did sit.

I took the oars: the Pilot's boy, Who now doth crazy go, Laughed loud and long, and all the while His eyes went to and fro. 'Ha! ha!' quoth he, 'full plain I see, The Devil knows how to row.'

And now, all in my own countree, I stood on the firm land! The Hermit stepped forth from the boat, And scarcely he could stand.

'O shrieve me, shrieve me, holy man!' The Hermit crossed his brow. 'Say quick,' quoth he, 'I bid thee say— What manner of man art thou?'

Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched With a woful agony, Which forced me to begin my tale; And then it left me free.

Since then, at an uncertain hour, That agony returns: And till my ghastly tale is told, This heart within me burns.

I pass, like night, from land to land; I have strange power of speech; That moment that his face I see, I know the man that must hear me: To him my tale I teach.

What loud uproar bursts from that door! The wedding-guests are there: But in the garden-bower the bride And bride-maids singing are: And hark the little vesper bell, Which biddeth me to prayer!

O Wedding-Guest! this soul hath been Alone on a wide wide sea: So lonely 'twas, that God himself Scarce seemèd there to be.

O sweeter than the marriage-feast, 'Tis sweeter far to me, To walk together to the kirk With a goodly company!—

To walk together to the kirk, And all together pray, While each to his great Father bends, Old men, and babes, and loving friends And youths and maidens gay!

Farewell, farewell! but this I tell To thee, thou Wedding-Guest! He prayeth well, who loveth well Both man and bird and beast.

He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.

The Mariner, whose eye is bright, Whose beard with age is hoar, Is gone: and now the Wedding-Guest Turned from the bridegroom's door.

He went like one that hath been stunned, And is of sense forlorn: A sadder and a wiser man, He rose the morrow morn.

Willy Pogany ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, illustration, 1915

[sandrinedrouinlove]

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner  BY SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

Argument How a Ship having passed the Line was driven by storms to the cold Country towards the South Pole; and how from thence she made her course to the tropical Latitude of the Great Pacific Ocean; and of the strange things that befell; and in what manner the Ancyent Marinere came back to his own Country.

PART I 

It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. 'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me? The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide, And I am next of kin; The guests are met, the feast is set: May'st hear the merry din.' He holds him with his skinny hand, 'There was a ship,' quoth he. 'Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!' Eftsoons his hand dropt he. He holds him with his glittering eye— The Wedding-Guest stood still, And listens like a three years' child: The Mariner hath his will. The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner. 'The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, Merrily did we drop Below the kirk, below the hill, Below the lighthouse top. The Sun came up upon the left, Out of the sea came he! And he shone bright, and on the right Went down into the sea. Higher and higher every day, Till over the mast at noon—' The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast, For he heard the loud bassoon. The bride hath paced into the hall, Red as a rose is she; Nodding their heads before her goes The merry minstrelsy. The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast, Yet he cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner. And now the STORM-BLAST came, and he Was tyrannous and strong: He struck with his o'ertaking wings, And chased us south along. With sloping masts and dipping prow, As who pursued with yell and blow Still treads the shadow of his foe, And forward bends his head, The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast, And southward aye we fled. And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold: And ice, mast-high, came floating by, As green as emerald. And through the drifts the snowy clifts Did send a dismal sheen: Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken— The ice was all between. The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound! At length did cross an Albatross, Thorough the fog it came; As if it had been a Christian soul, We hailed it in God's name. It ate the food it ne'er had eat, And round and round it flew. The ice did split with a thunder-fit; The helmsman steered us through! And a good south wind sprung up behind; The Albatross did follow, And every day, for food or play, Came to the mariner's hollo! In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud, It perched for vespers nine; Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white, Glimmered the white Moon-shine.' 'God save thee, ancient Mariner! From the fiends, that plague thee thus!— Why look'st thou so?'—With my cross-bow I shot the ALBATROSS. PART II The Sun now rose upon the right: Out of the sea came he, Still hid in mist, and on the left Went down into the sea. And the good south wind still blew behind, But no sweet bird did follow, Nor any day for food or play Came to the mariner's hollo! And I had done a hellish thing, And it would work 'em woe: For all averred, I had killed the bird That made the breeze to blow. Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay, That made the breeze to blow! Nor dim nor red, like God's own head, The glorious Sun uprist: Then all averred, I had killed the bird That brought the fog and mist. 'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, That bring the fog and mist. The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down, 'Twas sad as sad could be; And we did speak only to break The silence of the sea! All in a hot and copper sky, The bloody Sun, at noon, Right up above the mast did stand, No bigger than the Moon. Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean. Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink. The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea. About, about, in reel and rout The death-fires danced at night; The water, like a witch's oils, Burnt green, and blue and white. And some in dreams assurèd were Of the Spirit that plagued us so; Nine fathom deep he had followed us From the land of mist and snow. And every tongue, through utter drought, Was withered at the root; We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot. Ah! well a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung. PART III There passed a weary time. Each throat Was parched, and glazed each eye. A weary time! a weary time! How glazed each weary eye, When looking westward, I beheld A something in the sky. At first it seemed a little speck, And then it seemed a mist; It moved and moved, and took at last A certain shape, I wist. A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared and neared: As if it dodged a water-sprite, It plunged and tacked and veered. With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, We could nor laugh nor wail; Through utter drought all dumb we stood! I bit my arm, I sucked the blood, And cried, A sail! a sail! With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, Agape they heard me call: Gramercy! they for joy did grin, And all at once their breath drew in. As they were drinking all. See! see! (I cried) she tacks no more! Hither to work us weal; Without a breeze, without a tide, She steadies with upright keel! The western wave was all a-flame. The day was well nigh done! Almost upon the western wave Rested the broad bright Sun; When that strange shape drove suddenly Betwixt us and the Sun. And straight the Sun was flecked with bars, (Heaven's Mother send us grace!) As if through a dungeon-grate he peered With broad and burning face. Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud) How fast she nears and nears! Are those her sails that glance in the Sun, Like restless gossameres? Are those her ribs through which the Sun Did peer, as through a grate? And is that Woman all her crew? Is that a DEATH? and are there two? Is DEATH that woman's mate? Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was as white as leprosy, The Night-mare LIFE-IN-DEATH was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold. The naked hulk alongside came, And the twain were casting dice; 'The game is done! I've won! I've won!' Quoth she, and whistles thrice. The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush out; At one stride comes the dark; With far-heard whisper, o'er the sea, Off shot the spectre-bark. We listened and looked sideways up! Fear at my heart, as at a cup, My life-blood seemed to sip! The stars were dim, and thick the night, The steersman's face by his lamp gleamed white; From the sails the dew did drip— Till clomb above the eastern bar The hornèd Moon, with one bright star Within the nether tip. One after one, by the star-dogged Moon, Too quick for groan or sigh, Each turned his face with a ghastly pang, And cursed me with his eye. Four times fifty living men, (And I heard nor sigh nor groan) With heavy thump, a lifeless lump, They dropped down one by one. The souls did from their bodies fly,— They fled to bliss or woe! And every soul, it passed me by, Like the whizz of my cross-bow! PART IV 'I fear thee, ancient Mariner! I fear thy skinny hand! And thou art long, and lank, and brown, As is the ribbed sea-sand. I fear thee and thy glittering eye, And thy skinny hand, so brown.'— Fear not, fear not, thou Wedding-Guest! This body dropt not down. Alone, alone, all, all alone, Alone on a wide wide sea! And never a saint took pity on My soul in agony. The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I. I looked upon the rotting sea, And drew my eyes away; I looked upon the rotting deck, And there the dead men lay. I looked to heaven, and tried to pray; But or ever a prayer had gusht, A wicked whisper came, and made My heart as dry as dust. I closed my lids, and kept them close, And the balls like pulses beat; For the sky and the sea, and the sea and the sky Lay dead like a load on my weary eye, And the dead were at my feet. The cold sweat melted from their limbs, Nor rot nor reek did they: The look with which they looked on me Had never passed away. An orphan's curse would drag to hell A spirit from on high; But oh! more horrible than that Is the curse in a dead man's eye! Seven days, seven nights, I saw that curse, And yet I could not die. The moving Moon went up the sky, And no where did abide: Softly she was going up, And a star or two beside— Her beams bemocked the sultry main, Like April hoar-frost spread; But where the ship's huge shadow lay, The charmèd water burnt alway A still and awful red. Beyond the shadow of the ship, I watched the water-snakes: They moved in tracks of shining white, And when they reared, the elfish light Fell off in hoary flakes. Within the shadow of the ship I watched their rich attire: Blue, glossy green, and velvet black, They coiled and swam; and every track Was a flash of golden fire. O happy living things! no tongue Their beauty might declare: A spring of love gushed from my heart, And I blessed them unaware: Sure my kind saint took pity on me, And I blessed them unaware. The self-same moment I could pray; And from my neck so free The Albatross fell off, and sank Like lead into the sea. PART V Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing, Beloved from pole to pole! To Mary Queen the praise be given! She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven, That slid into my soul. The silly buckets on the deck, That had so long remained, I dreamt that they were filled with dew; And when I awoke, it rained. My lips were wet, my throat was cold, My garments all were dank; Sure I had drunken in my dreams, And still my body drank. I moved, and could not feel my limbs: I was so light—almost I thought that I had died in sleep, And was a blessed ghost. And soon I heard a roaring wind: It did not come anear; But with its sound it shook the sails, That were so thin and sere. The upper air burst into life! And a hundred fire-flags sheen, To and fro they were hurried about! And to and fro, and in and out, The wan stars danced between. And the coming wind did roar more loud, And the sails did sigh like sedge, And the rain poured down from one black cloud; The Moon was at its edge. The thick black cloud was cleft, and still The Moon was at its side: Like waters shot from some high crag, The lightning fell with never a jag, A river steep and wide. The loud wind never reached the ship, Yet now the ship moved on! Beneath the lightning and the Moon The dead men gave a groan. They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, Nor spake, nor moved their eyes; It had been strange, even in a dream, To have seen those dead men rise. The helmsman steered, the ship moved on; Yet never a breeze up-blew; The mariners all 'gan work the ropes, Where they were wont to do; They raised their limbs like lifeless tools— We were a ghastly crew. The body of my brother's son Stood by me, knee to knee: The body and I pulled at one rope, But he said nought to me. 'I fear thee, ancient Mariner!' Be calm, thou Wedding-Guest! 'Twas not those souls that fled in pain, Which to their corses came again, But a troop of spirits blest: For when it dawned—they dropped their arms, And clustered round the mast; Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, And from their bodies passed. Around, around, flew each sweet sound, Then darted to the Sun; Slowly the sounds came back again, Now mixed, now one by one. Sometimes a-dropping from the sky I heard the sky-lark sing; Sometimes all little birds that are, How they seemed to fill the sea and air With their sweet jargoning! And now 'twas like all instruments, Now like a lonely flute; And now it is an angel's song, That makes the heavens be mute. It ceased; yet still the sails made on A pleasant noise till noon, A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune. Till noon we quietly sailed on, Yet never a breeze did breathe: Slowly and smoothly went the ship, Moved onward from beneath. Under the keel nine fathom deep, From the land of mist and snow, The spirit slid: and it was he That made the ship to go. The sails at noon left off their tune, And the ship stood still also. The Sun, right up above the mast, Had fixed her to the ocean: But in a minute she 'gan stir, With a short uneasy motion— Backwards and forwards half her length With a short uneasy motion. Then like a pawing horse let go, She made a sudden bound: It flung the blood into my head, And I fell down in a swound. How long in that same fit I lay, I have not to declare; But ere my living life returned, I heard and in my soul discerned Two voices in the air. 'Is it he?' quoth one, 'Is this the man? By him who died on cross, With his cruel bow he laid full low The harmless Albatross. The spirit who bideth by himself In the land of mist and snow, He loved the bird that loved the man Who shot him with his bow.' The other was a softer voice, As soft as honey-dew: Quoth he, 'The man hath penance done, And penance more will do.' PART VI First Voice 'But tell me, tell me! speak again, Thy soft response renewing— What makes that ship drive on so fast? What is the ocean doing?' Second Voice Still as a slave before his lord, The ocean hath no blast; His great bright eye most silently Up to the Moon is cast— If he may know which way to go; For she guides him smooth or grim. See, brother, see! how graciously She looketh down on him.' First Voice 'But why drives on that ship so fast, Without or wave or wind?' Second Voice 'The air is cut away before, And closes from behind. Fly, brother, fly! more high, more high! Or we shall be belated: For slow and slow that ship will go, When the Mariner's trance is abated.' I woke, and we were sailing on As in a gentle weather: 'Twas night, calm night, the moon was high; The dead men stood together. All stood together on the deck, For a charnel-dungeon fitter: All fixed on me their stony eyes, That in the Moon did glitter. The pang, the curse, with which they died, Had never passed away: I could not draw my eyes from theirs, Nor turn them up to pray. And now this spell was snapt: once more I viewed the ocean green, And looked far forth, yet little saw Of what had else been seen— Like one, that on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread, And having once turned round walks on, And turns no more his head; Because he knows, a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread. But soon there breathed a wind on me, Nor sound nor motion made: Its path was not upon the sea, In ripple or in shade. It raised my hair, it fanned my cheek Like a meadow-gale of spring— It mingled strangely with my fears, Yet it felt like a welcoming. Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship, Yet she sailed softly too: Sweetly, sweetly blew the breeze— On me alone it blew. Oh! dream of joy! is this indeed The light-house top I see? Is this the hill? is this the kirk? Is this mine own countree? We drifted o'er the harbour-bar, And I with sobs did pray— O let me be awake, my God! Or let me sleep alway. The harbour-bay was clear as glass, So smoothly it was strewn! And on the bay the moonlight lay, And the shadow of the Moon. The rock shone bright, the kirk no less, That stands above the rock: The moonlight steeped in silentness The steady weathercock. And the bay was white with silent light, Till rising from the same, Full many shapes, that shadows were, In crimson colours came. A little distance from the prow Those crimson shadows were: I turned my eyes upon the deck— Oh, Christ! what saw I there! Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat, And, by the holy rood! A man all light, a seraph-man, On every corse there stood. This seraph-band, each waved his hand: It was a heavenly sight! They stood as signals to the land, Each one a lovely light; This seraph-band, each waved his hand, No voice did they impart— No voice; but oh! the silence sank Like music on my heart. But soon I heard the dash of oars, I heard the Pilot's cheer; My head was turned perforce away And I saw a boat appear. The Pilot and the Pilot's boy, I heard them coming fast: Dear Lord in Heaven! it was a joy The dead men could not blast. I saw a third—I heard his voice: It is the Hermit good! He singeth loud his godly hymns That he makes in the wood. He'll shrieve my soul, he'll wash away The Albatross's blood. PART VII This Hermit good lives in that wood Which slopes down to the sea. How loudly his sweet voice he rears! He loves to talk with marineres That come from a far countree. He kneels at morn, and noon, and eve— He hath a cushion plump: It is the moss that wholly hides The rotted old oak-stump. The skiff-boat neared: I heard them talk, 'Why, this is strange, I trow! Where are those lights so many and fair, That signal made but now?' 'Strange, by my faith!' the Hermit said— 'And they answered not our cheer! The planks looked warped! and see those sails, How thin they are and sere! I never saw aught like to them, Unless perchance it were Brown skeletons of leaves that lag My forest-brook along; When the ivy-tod is heavy with snow, And the owlet whoops to the wolf below, That eats the she-wolf's young.' 'Dear Lord! it hath a fiendish look— (The Pilot made reply) I am a-feared'—'Push on, push on!' Said the Hermit cheerily. The boat came closer to the ship, But I nor spake nor stirred; The boat came close beneath the ship, And straight a sound was heard. Under the water it rumbled on, Still louder and more dread: It reached the ship, it split the bay; The ship went down like lead. Stunned by that loud and dreadful sound, Which sky and ocean smote, Like one that hath been seven days drowned My body lay afloat; But swift as dreams, myself I found Within the Pilot's boat. Upon the whirl, where sank the ship, The boat spun round and round; And all was still, save that the hill Was telling of the sound. I moved my lips—the Pilot shrieked And fell down in a fit; The holy Hermit raised his eyes, And prayed where he did sit. I took the oars: the Pilot's boy, Who now doth crazy go, Laughed loud and long, and all the while His eyes went to and fro. 'Ha! ha!' quoth he, 'full plain I see, The Devil knows how to row.' And now, all in my own countree, I stood on the firm land! The Hermit stepped forth from the boat, And scarcely he could stand. 'O shrieve me, shrieve me, holy man!' The Hermit crossed his brow. 'Say quick,' quoth he, 'I bid thee say— What manner of man art thou?' Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched With a woful agony, Which forced me to begin my tale; And then it left me free. Since then, at an uncertain hour, That agony returns: And till my ghastly tale is told, This heart within me burns. I pass, like night, from land to land; I have strange power of speech; That moment that his face I see, I know the man that must hear me: To him my tale I teach. What loud uproar bursts from that door! The wedding-guests are there: But in the garden-bower the bride And bride-maids singing are: And hark the little vesper bell, Which biddeth me to prayer! O Wedding-Guest! this soul hath been Alone on a wide wide sea: So lonely 'twas, that God himself Scarce seemèd there to be. O sweeter than the marriage-feast, 'Tis sweeter far to me, To walk together to the kirk With a goodly company!— To walk together to the kirk, And all together pray, While each to his great Father bends, Old men, and babes, and loving friends And youths and maidens gay! Farewell, farewell! but this I tell To thee, thou Wedding-Guest! He prayeth well, who loveth well Both man and bird and beast. He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all. The Mariner, whose eye is bright, Whose beard with age is hoar, Is gone: and now the Wedding-Guest Turned from the bridegroom's door. He went like one that hath been stunned, And is of sense forlorn: A sadder and a wiser man, He rose the morrow morn.

[theweepingvulcan91]

Music Challenge

Here it is...round one for the challenge Here it is...round one for the challenge. 

@sfumato-the-bear @goingknowherewastaken​ I hope you like it :)

Jim X Reader

Star Trek

Prompt- The song was Glitter and Gold by Barnes Country

The character was Jim Kirk

The prompt was heart

Word Count- 1236

Huzzah!”

Loud boisterous voices filled the air from the purple skinned Kraxians as they began setting up for the night’s festivities. Tonight, was the night that they had celebrated the introductions of the Kraxian people into the Federation.  They had been invited by the elders to all come down to this tropical planet for the celebration. Having been given more suitable attire Y/N makes her way towards the center of the party. The dress a bright bluish hue and every so carefully wrapped around her body one would think it would just fly off. But then again it could be worse. She giggled seeing the captain wrapped only from the waist down.

“Ahh Y/N,”

Jim said with a smile as he closed the gap between him. It was nice to see him so relaxed especially after such a stressful mission. Nervously you began to play with your hair that had been taken down from its regulation up do. Jim always gave you butterflies when he spoke to you.  

“How did the flock of locals treat you?”

“Quite well actually. It is nice to see how everyone is treated like a family here.”  

Y/N Said softly as she smiled softly. They had been so kind. This planet was a matriarchal society and thus all of the females were whisked away for special bathes before the event. Just past Jim’s shoulder Uhura could be seen singing with a group of younger Kraxians.  

“How have they treated you Captain?”

Y/N asked as she was pushed closer towards Jim by some locals. Y/N’s heard skipped as she stumbled into Jim. If she was being perfectly honest, she had had quite the crush on Jim since back at the academy. She was too shy however to tell him about her feelings; hell, she couldn’t even be honest with herself.  

“Just Jim now Y/N. Now that the talks are over, we are on glorified shore leave. And they are treating us all like royalty. Even Spock is enjoying himself.”

Jim pointed near by the bond fire in front of them. There Spock was sitting next to a few Kraxians who were trying to teach the Vulcan how to play a native stringed instrument. It was curved and looked similar to Spock’s Lyre. Y/N giggles as she follows Jim’s finger to the sight.

“That is quite nice to hear Jim. It has been a rough road for all of us these last few days and I for one am glad to be able to relax a bit now.”  

“Well then why don’t we get you something to drink. And a nice place around the...”

“Excuse me sir?”

A young fair skinned Kraxian stood now between Y/N and Jim. Jim gave her a once over as he looked back at Y/N.

“Ah G’lindea. This is Y/N. She is one of my cartographers. Y/N this is G’lindea the High Elder’s daughter.”

“It is an honor G’lindea.”  

Y/N said as she bowed her head. The young woman bowed in returned. She hadn’t been interested in her. She only had one thing on her mind and that was currently the captain.  The wistful look in her eyes was almost like she was hungry for him.

“Captain? Can I please have this dance? This song is one of passion and I wish to share it with you”

G’lindea took hold of Jim’s hands and pulled him towards the fire. Jim looked at Y/N as if to ask for permission to leave. He hated being rude especially since he was trying so hard to actually spend some alone time with her. Y/N smiled and nodded as if to agree to let him go. Jim let out a soft sigh as he went to dance with G’lindea.  

“Good job Y/N,”

Y/N said just soft enough to be heard. Turning back, she began to walk away from the festivities. A woman who looked not much older than the woman that took the captain stopped Y/N.

“Do you walk in the valley of kings? Do you walk in the shadow of men?”  

Y/N froze as she listened to the woman as she rambled occasionally pointing at Jim. Ending her tale, she handed Y/N a small stone that was in the shape of a heart.

“Take this to your love,”

The woman pointed at Jim.

“Once you give it to him the other will disappear. And you shall be known as his.”

Y/n’s hand was trembling as she looked down at the jade stone in her hand. It was swirling shades of green as it streaked yellow. She knew then what she had to do. For once she had to be brave and confront her feelings. Taking a deep breath she stormed over to the dancing pair.

“Excuse me...Jim?”

Jim stopped as he turned the Y/N. He looked a bit puzzled as he had never seen her face contorted in such a way before. G’lindea grabbed his hand and tried to get him to continue with her. He pulled away and gave his full attention to Y/N.

“I was told by a elderly woman that...that I needed to give this to you”  

Y/N shoves the jade heart into Jim’s hand. G’lindea’s eyes widened as she saw the stone. She crashed down to her knees and began to mutter in her native tongue.

“What the hell is this?”

“I beg for your forgiveness. Had I known that she was your mate I wouldn’t have approached you.”

Y/N stood and looked at the cowering woman. Then back at Jim taking a deep breath. That woman must have seen my love for Jim. She thought taking another breath and turning to the other woman.

“It’s okay G’lindea. There is no offence.”  

She said softly as she helped the young woman to her feet. Bowing her head G’lindea ran off to a nearby hut. Y/N hoped she hadn’t hurt the poor girl any with her actions.

“So... this means that you want to claim me as your mate?”

Jim said as he continued to stare into the stone. Seeing flashes of their lives together. Missions they had gone on...conversations she had with others...it was like he was seeing her love for him.

“Because you know...we’d have to follow protocol...”

“When have you EVER followed a protocol James Kirk?”  

If one was quite enough you could hear Y/N’s eyes roll in the back of her head. She knew it would be complicated with him being her captain. She knew that it would be frowned upon, but she didn’t care. She had feelings for this man before he was her boss and she would continue to have them for him until the day she died.  

“It’s going to be rough being the Captain’s woman Y/N. Are you prepared for that journey?”

Y/N paused for a moment. Her mind raced with all of the problems they would have to face. Without thinking she put her hand in his as she covered the stone. She began to see that Jim cared very deeply for her as well. She saw flashes of him spending his free time with her as she was in sickbay...their academy graduation...that one party where they kissed. It all flooded in her mind as she looked up at Jim and Smiled.

“With you Jim...I’m ready for anything.”

Jim smiled a hearty smile as he wrapped his arms around Y/N and began to dance near the fire with her.