There were two kings below the sea, two kings both wise and wry
For they did swear a solemn oath, Jack Raptureweed must die
They took a shell and dug him down, put sand upon his head
For forsworn they would not be, Jack Rapture weed was dead
But tidal pulls went gently by, and silt began to fall
Jack Raptureweed got up again, and sore surprised them all
To shimmer-sun then through the waves, he reached within his bonds
Pale in green and thick of stock, grew tall his many fronds
But edged in gold he sickened so, and faded into age
And once again his enemies, did show their deadly rage
They took a weapon long and sharp, and cut him to his knees
Then gathered up his briny corps, to send about the seas
Jack Raptureweed a hero bold, who some now still despise
For if you do but taste his flesh, he’ll make your courage rise
Or make you all forget your woes, and set you at your ease
So you cheer Jack Raptureweed, as savior of the seas
But beware Jack Raptureweed, too often taste him not
For he might still have his revenge, and make a king a sot
Endnote:
While it is not universal, the archetypal Green Man is sometimes associated with the sea. The Green Hunter of Danish legend spears a mermaid. The Welsh fairy king, Gwyn ap Nudd battles for the sea god’s daughter yearly at the direction of King Arthur. Peter Pan has Captain Hook and the mermaids. Dionysus is taken by pirates and turns them into dolphins, and is represented as Oceanus. Oceanus is sometimes represented with the horns and/or as the foliate head. I would venture to say that it is purely coincidental that the Greek translation, Okeanos, can be pronounced Oaky-On-Nose.
