Timothy Birdnow

The Flight of the Genoan

While searching for spice
setting sun did entice
the man from Genoa sailed west
in search of new trade
and of gold and of jade
at sweet Isabelle's solemn behest.

But he was wrong, the trip was too long, no-one else would finance his great quest
So the queen hocked her jewels
it was they who were fools
and she embraced Christopher to her warm breast

In three leaky small ships
Ferdinand did equip
Columbus to sail far away
He knew not to tarry
he soon left the Canary
Into the sun of the eve he did slip

The sea defied imagination far beyond his calculation
And the crew became restive and turned
Columbus begged for a day
or he'd turn the other way
but the crows nest had news that would burn

They had spotted dry land
a seashore with white sand
And they landed to refill their store
believing it was the Indies
Chris  fell to his knees
and he named the place San Salvador

But he never knew as his legend grew and grew
that he'd discovered a whole new world
And an empire was laid as history was made
under the banner the great navigator  flew.

When worlds collide it can be a rough ride
and sadly many natives had  died
But was it the fault of the old Italian salt?
or of all men so foolish in pride?

A devout and faithful man
Columbus had a master plan
to rescue and save the lost souls
from eternity's fate
and the punishing hate
of Hell's burning and eternal coals

So he brought forth salvation to many a nation
the good governor had a vocation

only now for a short little while
we believe Columbus was hate-filled and vile
but that is a modern invention, a revisionist convention, it was never his intention
that has recently come into style

He resisted maltreatment and tried to be decent
But the heart of all men is quite bad
and he couldn't prevent all the  evil intent
the misuse of the natives - how  sad!

But Columbus unfurled an entire new world

He brought civilization to many a nation
and he offered  salvation
in the midst of the conflagration
he does not deserve his new station

So let's hoist a glass to that titan of the past
a toast in honor of Columbus
and let he without sin toss a stone at his chin
I dare say there's not one worthy among us.

In fourteen hundred and ninety two Anno Domini
Columbus flew across the dark and stormy sea
and changed forever the world for you and me.

So it once was, so let it be.

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 09:46 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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