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The story behind some mystery lights. (48 lines) |
The Light Keep Kathleen McNamara There is lore among the locals the story set to verse about the lonely coastal sentry and a light keep with a curse. While walking the rocky shoreline, the lighthouse straight ahead, I saw someone on the rundown porch under a sky as gray as lead. He waited for me patiently as I entered the weedy yard. He glanced at the sky and said to me, “Tonight a gale blows hard.” No pleasantries passed between us though I’m sure that he did guess the reason for my visit. I hoped he’d answer my request. Before I could even say a word he motioned towards the light and began to tell the story of that deadly storm-filled night. “The keeper was a young man who had never faced a gale. How he reacted to the storm-tossed sea is the reason for this tale.” “It was fear of death that drove the man to abandon this lonely post. With no light to guide them through the waves two ships sank off the coast.” “A hundred lives were lost at sea for lack of a guiding light. A bounty was placed upon his head to thwart the light keep’s flight.” “They found him cowering in the woods and returned him to stand trial. When confronted with the charges he offered no denial.” “Before the final ruling a grieving widow did foretell an eternity of sorrow and torment… no heaven, only hell.” “He was hung upon a yardarm. A storm blew up that night. It was then the hauntings started and the tales of the spectral lights.” I asked him how he knew all this, the details and history. The grim words echoing as he vanished, “The cursed light keep? I am he.” |