My dearest Hazel

[Intro] (Instrumental Solo) [Verse 1] February third, nineteen-oh-nine I trace the tremor between each line My dearest Hazel, if you should reed These pages one day, know this need Compels my pen—should we be lost Let this account explain the cost [Verse 2] We sailed beneath scholarly pretense fair Papa pursuing a theory rare An ancient realm in Congo’s shade But gold, not learning, the voyage made A Spanish letter, centuries old Of mutineers and buried gold [Verse 3] Officers slain by reckless hand No navigator left to command Two months adrift, by hunger worn Wrecked on an isle by tempest torn Ten survived, one chest secured Iron-bound oak in oilcloth cured [Verse 4] Three years they waited; hope declined One man alone retained his mind He chose the sea o’er solitude’s dread Was rescued north, but falsely pled He spoke no word of blood or prize Yet marked Cape Verde by wind and skies [Chorus] A crude small map with trembling X Thus came our ruin, thus the vex Papa paid dearly for fragile lore Ten thousand borrowed—perhaps yet more Canler required no bond nor deed I dread what such indulgence may breed [Verse 5] We found the chest. It proved no tale Four men bent low; none could prevail Against its weight of minted years Bright sovereigns pressed like frozen tears Three days thereafter—horror new Our own crew rose; their officers slew [Verse 6] I cannot read those cries again They echo still in pulse and brain Their leader spared us, yet sailed away With stolen gold toward judgment day For he alone the heavens knew And on the shore his life withdrew [Chorus] Thus history answers crime with kind Violence circles, precise, resigned We are left with one small arm Three cartridges against all harm Fruit and nut our daily fare Providence our only care [Verse 7] And Mr. Clayton—steadfast, brave Composed where others would misbehave Heir to a title I once professed An American heart should not request Yet were all heraldry set aside In character alone he would abide [Verse 8] As worthy of esteem most high I cannot wholly say him nay Since landing—lions in dreadful might Papa pursued from learned sight Mr. Philander breathless fled Twice has Clayton by danger bled [Verse 9] Esmeralda and I confined A lioness pacing, fierce of mind And stranger still—a guardian near Seen by others, yet I but hear A figure bronzed by sun and air Of wondrous strength and aspect rare [Verse 10] He speaks no word our ears can read Yet comes in dire and vanishes with speed A printed notice, firm and plain: Tarzan watches. Do refrain A sailor raised his pistol sly A spear descended from on high [Bridge] The shot went wild, the shoulder torn And silence answered, vast, forlorn If ever you should read these lines And measure fate by strange designs Remember—courage may reside Where terror and resolve collide [Outro] And should I vanish from your sight Think of me steadfast in the night