Darkling I listen; and, for many a time

I have been half in love with easeful Death,

Call'd him soft names in many a mused rhyme,

To take into the air my quiet breath;

Now more than ever seems it rich to die,

To cease upon the midnight with no pain,

While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad

In such an ecstasy!

Still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vain—

To thy high requiem become a sod.

Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!

No hungry generations tread thee down;

The voice I hear this passing night was heard

In ancient days by emperor and clown:

Perhaps the self-same song that found a path

Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home,

She stood in tears amid the alien corn;

The same that oft-times hath

Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam

Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn...

~ Excerpt from Ode To A Nightingale, John Keats

1 - Raffles - A. J. Raffles, Deceased

Italy. 1895.

Raffles.

The irony is, of course, that upon now finding myself finally in the land of the lotos-eaters, I still have yet to eat. I find myself ever acting as my own Ulysses, dragging myself back from pleasant oblivion, lashing myself to the mast of memory, and for what? I have no kingdom, no people, no Penelope waiting for my return.

Perhaps I'd do better to follow in the footsteps of Proserpine and find a new life for myself here in my own little Hades, here in her garden where all the world is quiet. Wolfsbane and ruby-grape, pass the pomegranate, old girl; all twelve seeds; no half measures; no return. I'll swallow them down with the waters of Lethe and finally push off to Asphodel, unburdened.

The papers will read: A. J. Raffles, Deceased.
I don't see why I shouldn't be the one to pen his obituary.

I'll write everything down; make it a gift to Poseidon, the Nereides, to any god who'll take it. An offering and a bargain all wrapped up in one neat package: The gods may have my past life if they'll only take it from me.

A fair deal, I should think, for a life so full of romance and adventure. If anything, it's a bit unbalanced in their favour. Perhaps I'll ask them if they can throw in a diamond or five; no point in selling myself short.

Or maybe I'll ask them to look after him.

Maybe then I'll find some peace, at last.