An excerpt from the Song of Nim Lum, a Nemean epic.
So Nim Lum took his leave of home
And set out for the dock.
The sky was wide and white and grey
And boat ‘gainst pier did knock.
The tall ships’ sails they flapped and spat;
Birds cried, “listen once! Listen more!”
For well they knew Nim Lum would go
And return with a hero’s oar.
He had around a good fine crew,
Seven strong and powerful youths.
Elisha, Lee, and proud Gustav;
The siblings Prikyat, Lin, and Ruth.
He had around fine goods to trade,
The best of each the isles fair,
Fish from Doip, carved bone from Xheech;
From Flitch came herbs hand-dried to share.
From Yuu he brought a whistle-box
That played strange shivering, trembling notes.
The islands all thus gave their gifts;
From Alaxus, Nim brought the boat.
The white sails spat and flapped so tall
As Nim and his crew took to sea.
The sky was wide and white and grey;
The sea shone shades of blue and green.
And on the docks their families stood
And waved them off a proud goodbye.
For well they knew — they’d heard the birds —
That they’d return with hearts held high.
And Nim Lum, he stood at the prow
And sung his crew a stirring verse.
He cried, “listen once! Listen more!
These islands have o’ercome their worst.
For we will find some fine, rich goods
As we cross seas blue, green, and vast.
We’ll buy them in exchange for ours,
Nemean flag high on the mast.
And then we’ll bring them home to share,
And then we’ll do it all again.
Nemeus will an empire build,
And we need ask not “how?,” but “when?””
The tall ships’ sails, they flapped and spat.
Birds cried in skies wide, white, and grey.
Nemeus’ flag soared on the mast,
And Nim Lum sailed into the bay.