Christopher Columbus (Part 1)

Now folks know, I'm sure, unless they're quite new,

The year fourteen hundred and ninety two.

When, with his plans all set, and his time come due,

And Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

With a soul for the sea and a pulse for adventure

He longed to explore and no go to pasture,

For the moment was ripe for those curious eyes

To gaze on what lay 'neath the far distant skies.

And so Chris set his sails on one hot August day,

Taking his three good ships and no drop of dismay,

As -- The Nina, The Pinta, and The Santa Maria

Left the harbors of Spain to go see India.

But rather than sail along the African cape,

Chris charted a course with a much different shape,

As he followed the ebb of the sun’s setting light

On the seas heading west as they trailed out of sight.

Ah, but to reach the Far East by crossing the ocean

Called the Atlantic: 'Twas an unheard of notion!

This water was vast and back then no one knew

What dangers might lurk for captain and crew.

Indeed, people said, when they heard of this shocker,

That this Captain Columbus has gone off his rocker!

But his long years of pleasing to Queen Isabella,

Convinced Spain to have faith in the dreams of this fella'.

So, just why did Young Christoph think ever to head

Across boundless waters that filled men with dread?

Well, for riches, it's true, he was hot on the trail,

But a sense of destiny is what tipped the scale.

"I will sail west," he charged, "And let there be no doubt,

I'll be first to the East by this new water route!"

And so Chris was firm when a fearful crew did cry:

“It’s two months at sea, with no land gone by!”