by Nick Gisburne
Dimitri rides the river, to the sea,
A jagged little journey of despair.
His father knows this day was meant to be,
But fears the boy too foolish to prepare.
The danger of the Kraken’s kiss is clear:
Submission brings a burden few accept.
No ordinary madness may appear
To those who seek it, waking what has slept.
Disciples take his silver, row him out,
And fix him to the Seeker’s Rock with chains.
Though currents may be kind, he does not doubt,
The terror of the seas may boil his brains.
At dawn, a mermaid, naked, hard to miss,
Explains, “I’m Kraken’s daughter, Karen. Kiss?”
