The Eighth Continent 

Robert Shmigelsky

Wanting them to choose a land of their own   

God placed the first born of men, born young and old, 

afar on the high seas far from shallow shoals 

atop their bulky wooden boats with silver coats. 

Thro' wind and over tide, the seven seas they roamed

for the right land to call home.

An empty void up in the night sky

alas, the first born of men did not arrive.

Seeing this from up high from where he be

God decided to hang up his belt

on a hook one only had to look up to see.

The next night bright lights and beams

nearly blinded. The first born shielded

their eyes, looked up and feasted.

Starring down at them was the stars,

which - like eyes in the sky - made them stare.

A guide at last for dark nights

the first born steered their arks towards the strongest light.

For seven days straight they followed under its eye

across the sea thro' wind and over tide

to shallow shoals reaching ever closer. 

But just then God's brother coughed up the clouds,

not wishing for the first born to find 

the seven lands - but the eighth where he was confined, 

the arrangement God made in exchange

for left pan of scale he wished to attain.

God decided not to blow the clouds away 

and the first born sailed slightly astray.

They came to a land that was almost an island,

a winding peninsula that widened in the end

into lands cracked and gray, leading to depths

darkened by darkness itself.

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~~~~~ <~
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Robert is an aspiring fantasy writer taking English courses at Okanagan College to try to improve his writing. Besides reading and writing, some of his hobbies include computers and history. He has a dry sense of humour, which he blames his stepfather for. Also, he has a habit of making history jokes no one but him understands.  He is currently working as a certified care aide in beautiful British Columbia to support his writing.