ETHEN’S 4TH BIRTHDAY
Ethen and Noah put to sea, in a beautiful pea-green boat.
They waved goodbye to their Mummy and Daddy, then struggled to stay afloat………………………….
Noah handled the sail, leaving Ethen to bail, as they rode the cresting foam
Then above the wind’s shriek, the bending mast’s creak,
They heard a mournful moan
Up from the depths, a sea-serpent leapt, its tentacles curling and twisting
they reached for the boys, with a scrabbling noise,
and set the boat spinning and listing
Staring in awe at the monster’s dark maw, their future looked terribly bleak
Each caught round the waist, they were dragged face-to-face
With huge eyes round a monstrous beak
But from deep down inside, a kindly voice cried: “Ethen, Noah you’re invited to tea!
The King and his mermaids, were told it’s your birthday.
Come, join the King of the sea!”
To the sea bed, with the serpent they sped, to a cave full of music and song
The king with his crown, gazed regally around,
At his guests and a merry-some throng
Starfish on the ceiling, by their warm glow revealing, a most enchanting scene
Merfolk, in pairs dancing, with seahorses prancing
As clown fish shimmered and gleamed
A cake was unfurled, decorated with pearls, and “Happy Birthday” was joyfully sung
A treasure chest long concealed had its contents revealed
And gold coins round their necks gently hung
Then a bellowing call, echoed throughout the hall, and a giant of the sea now appeared
“Your ride has arrived” and the King winked his eye
As a whale beat it’s tail and drew near
On the backs of 2 dolphins, they perched just like Sultans, and rode to the creatures broad back
The boys cheered and waved as they swept from the cave
Into waters both cold and ink-black
To the surface they flew, launching into the blue, neath a sky now prickling with stars
Appeased and now calm into the Sea’s gentle arms
They settled and gazed up at Mars
To their ears came sad songs, deep notes, slow, prolonged, as the mermaids bade them good bye
Their boat no more needed, as a gift Ethen ceded
And they turned towards home with a sigh
The sudden flash of a light set the mermaids to flight, Ethen slowly took in the scene
There was Mum at his bed, gently stroking his head
The adventure had been but a dream.
Peter Rich
