Before his act of daring love, his barefoot walk
across the boiling waters of the Torrid Zone
just to win her heart, when still a boy blushing at
the thought of her, he spent his port days in the taverns
by the wharves drinking with the shipwrecked fishermen,
learning, some say, the hidden currents of the heart.
Some say the Captain had a secret map that traced
a path between the sea worm’s lair and the floating
islands of the singing sirens, some say he never
would have left the islands of the Dragon Tree
without the promise that she would be there waiting.
But does a boy’s heart need such assurances?
Are not desire and fame reason enough to leave
behind all one knows? Heroes walk by faith, not sight.

-Jeremy Paden