Times of Glory 8: Jack the Ripper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKPt8DAhA80

8 Jack the Ripper

Poor old Jack

He's never coming back

He traveled 'round the world, just to find his Kitty-Cat

The Cat he didn't find

But the Bell she left behind

He stayed away, cried many a day,

and now has lost his mind...

Jack’s Plea

Jack came upon the Ladies of the Waters

"I've traveled long and cannot find my love –

"Will you grant me passage Far Away, oh lovely daughters?"

"We refuse. The Joker stole your trove.

We will not grant passage to a fool

Who, for stupidity, has lost his rule.

You no longer have your worth nor prestige to speak of –

But good luck, King Fool, finding your love!"

"Prestige… it's always this," thought Jack

"It is always worth I lack…"

Jack and the Teller

He came upon a Teller's shed

All trimmed in Gold and dyed in red

"Witch, oh witch!" Jack called inside

"I visit you again!"

The witch came out behind her counter

"Chance to guess, you haven't found her?"

"She's Far Away, I think, but first

I must pay for my sin…

To cross the waters, I will need

to gain prestige again…"

"Then my advice to you, my dear:

Go visit the Outs of Near.

You’ll come into the Land of Lost

Gain what you need, and pay the cost.

There, prestige will gather ‘round you;

And you’ll know then your true value."

Said Jack, "Again, you give me aid, though even now I have not paid-!"

She laughed. "And with what would you pay? But I would not ask it anyway.

Once again, I will not charge, because you so intrigue me.

So visit me again, my dear – Don't hesitate to see me!"

Jack thanked her, holding tight his Bell –

Around his neck he wore it.

His first time there, it caught his eye,

And after it, he longed.

She’d seen his gaze and felt inclined

Because his will was strong

And with this Bell to wish him well,

He'd find his love… he swore it.

The Potter’s Glen

The day the Giant Potter fell

From Sky to solid ground

A great wind came and overturned

His Glen perched in the clouds

And down it fell toward Ding Dong Dell

Upon the Outs of Near

The town, once gray before that day

Now reigned in colors clear

For oh what magic in this Glen set to protect a child

Do not let the adults come in, lest it would be defiled

Jack and the Butcher

Jack came unto the Land of Lost, to earn himself prestige

The Butcher met him on the road, and laughed for all his glee

"Jack, m'boy!" he said with a grin, "Now be it really you!?"

But Jack maintained a face quite grim, "This is me, it's true…"

Butcher saw his downcast face, and paused his happy smile –

Then placed a hand upon Jack's head, "Come, walk with me a while."

Jack told him of his darling Jill, and of his Glory gone

He spoke of Jester's cold betrayal, and of his lost prestige

So Butcher pointed up a hill, "Look, my prestige is strong.

That is my mansion on that hill, so set your mind at ease.

Come work for me and you will gain prestige too, before long."

People of Lost

People of the Land of Lost have very strangely ways

Instead of Gold, they carry papers with them every day

These papers they can trade for housing, food or drink

And with more papers comes more value – this is how they think.

But on these Prestige Papers is written one's worth in Gold

They carry papers just because they're easier to hold

So still, one will be treated cold

If one’s worth isn’t back by Gold

The Butcher’s Influence

Working, working. Butcher and slice

Learning to use our knives

We can work, because Butcher is nice

Sell to him our lives

Jack worked for the Butcher many a solemn day

Jack worked for the Butcher to chase his fears away

Jack worked for the Butcher his mind, these knives shall claim

Jack worked for the Butcher and more fearful he became

Here is a candle to send you to bed,

And here comes a chopper to chop off your head

Here is a candle to send you to bed,

And here comes a Chopper to Chop Off Your Head!!!

Jack Awoke!

He barely spoke.

His dreams were getting worse…

This solemn man does all he can

Simply for breath and work

Love so far and fear so close, Jack's countenance grew cold

Working hard to gain prestige and back himself with Gold

The only comfort he now felt was in the knives he held

And so he filled his coat with them, and in the darkness dwelled…

A Killer

A man has died! He was attacked!

An evil omen's come!

Aren't you afraid of that man, Jack?

I bet that it was him...

Shh! Here he comes! Quick, hold your tongues -

Or else he'll strike again!

Each night, since Jack came to the town

A man would be attacked

So all the people gathered ‘round

To try and capture Jack –

Jack sought aid from the Butcher

But he did not seem at home

So Jack ran off, fast as he could

Into the woods alone

It was raining very hard

As Jack ran quick away

He had no time for stop or pause

Upon this dreary day

He traveled fast and very long, then came upon a Glen

Where suddenly he was attacked by six surprise children!

Adults of Lost,

Guard the Bells at all cost

Lest Silver these Bells will become

Lost children,

Keep guard over your Glen

Lest the Gold should overcome

But Jack was strong

So the fight wasn't long.

Jack and the Children

Jack said crossly, “What was that for?”

He flung the sixth kid on a pile.

"Adults aren't allowed!" said the one on the bottom

His stubborness made Jack smile.

Jack knelt down to grin on the little boy's level

"It seems that I've entered, so what will you do?

I suppose you could fight me again, but I'm sure

That's a challenge, with five kids piled on top of you."

The little boy struggled, but Jack raised a hand;

"Do not worry, I'm not here to disrupt your land.

The people of Lost seem to think I'm a Beast,

They all want me gone for disturbing their peace."

Spying the knives, the kid truly felt frightened

But then saw what was not expected

It made his heart leap and his thoughts – how they brightened!

Perhaps Jack was more than suspected!

For there the boy saw it, around the man’s neck

A Bell of a Silvery light

Jack kept it in his collar, but during his trek

It escaped and now swung left and right

Though this Silver Bell yet would not make a sound

Its shimmer of beauty was truly profound.

The Children of Lost

Tootles, Nibs, Slightly, Curly, Marmaduke, and Binky

Though they had once fought with Jack, now liked his company

These six children led the band that dwelt within the Glen

And they were scouts who set about to keep it clear of men

They called themselves "The Lost Boys" – and truly they were wild

But every single one of them was quite the clever child

"Let's strike a deal," said Tootles, "since we've got our problems, too.

You say the adults want you gone? Help us, and we'll help you.

Since they all work for papers that are backed up by their Gold,

They think that we are worthless, and they treat us very cold.

But we have much of Silver, and Piper taught us how to use it

We've our own system of value, but the adults would we lose it."

“I do not see how aiding you will help my case,” said Jack.

“Don’t you need passage Far Away? Our friends can help with that.”

The Skyfish

Ladies of the Waters, the Ocean's lovely Daughters,

A group of them once swam into a Glen.

The Glen arose into the Sky, where Gold could never catch their eye

And even though they've come back down again

They'll ever love Silver until the end.

The Skyfish loved the Potter

The Potter loved the Sky

But that time now is over

And has firmly passed them by.

Yet though the Skyfish of the Glen

Have come back to the world again

Young children they will not neglect

For they’re still longing to protect.

"Ladies of the Waters, precious Glen's lovely Daughters

If I help these kids, will you help me?"

"Jack, become our brother, and we shall aid each other

The Dell Bells will turn Silver, and you’ll then have what you need."

The Adults Decide to Fight Back

Where be Jack?

I hear he's in the Glen

He wishes to defy us

By aiding the children

Where be Butcher?

In his manor on the hill

Let's call for him, and gain his aid

For Gold, he surely will!

The Threat of the Butcher

"Jack, dear Jack," said the Water Ladies

"Prithee do take care.

For the man you're up against

Has none of it to spare."

"Who is it I now must challenge, Ladies of the Glen?"

"The Butcher is the one who would destroy all these children."

Jack could hardly catch his ears,

"What!? I worked for that man!

He has the most prestige in town-"

"Then steal it, if you can."

How do you steal prestige, my friend?

And how do you steal one's worth,

When he believes you're nothing

Though you work, and work, and work?

Then let's spy on the Butcher!

Let us follow where he goes!

We’ll see where he gets his prestige

And steal it when we knows!

How interesting life can be

Baffling us with mystery…

The Real Ripper Discovered

I spy with my little eye

A Butcher and a knife…

And now I spy a simpleton-

As Butcher takes his life!!

Run.

Hurry now! Back to the Glen!

Quick, kids! Quick!

We now know who killed those men!!

Run, kids! Run!

Gasp again and clasp a hand –

We've come back.

Gaining Jack

"My eyes have seen, but won't believe," said Jack.

Said Tootles, "But we've known this to be true."

Said Binky, "He's been at this for as long as we remember…”

"He'll surely strike again," said Marmaduke.

"But why has prestige found this man at all?"

"He sets up one he hates to take his fall,”

said Tootles. "In the same way that he’s surely done to you.

He’s played you, Jack. Like one plays with a doll.”

"The Butcher butchers meat… And people with prestige.

But I can't figure out why he'd so want to butcher me?"

Yet Jack steeled himself, and turned his eyes back to the child.

“Well, do not believe that I will take this laying mild."

And as he rose with fury, the children rose with grins.

With Jack now determined… they felt certain they would win.

A Plan Is Formed

Said Jack, "I think I have a plan

To steal into his hold –

We’ll change the Great Dell Bells to Silver,

Make worthless his Gold.”

So Jack was nimble, Jack was quick

He hid into the Glen

Sorted his knives, dressed as a Beast,

And came back out again.

The Adults React

“Quick! Come quick! I have seen the Beast!

It is Jack, the one who slaughters men!

Look! Look! See? He's holding hostages!

The Beast has captured all of our children!”

“No! Not so! You adults treat us cold!

You have tried to steal into our Glen!

We back him with our Silver, for through him we'll be delivered!

And you will not threaten our lands again!”

"What is the meaning of this, Jack!

Release our children now!"

"Not until you lend an ear

To what I have to speak."

"Will you really give them back?

Then we shall hear you out…

But if you lay one hand on them-"

"Such a thing, I wouldn't think!

... But I am ‘The Beast of Loster’

Whom you speak of in a whisper

Saying, ‘Beware Jack the Ripper.’

For to kill, I do not quiver.”

The people shook with fear as he put his bluff to the test

"Speak quickly! We will listen! We shall hear out your request!"

(And the children chuckled to themselves, for they knew of his jest.)

Jack Strikes a Deal

"You want the deaths to stop, I'd wager?

Then this you must do.

Butcher shall give to me his manor

If he cares for you.

I will live away up there, but I’ll need things from this town.

So let these children serve me and I'll not need to come down.

I’ll have them trade for food with Silver

And you will all accept it –

If you do not, I'll kill you lot

So better not reject it.”

The Butcher’s Loss

Butcher lost his mansion! Butcher lost his mansion!

Lest 'the Ripper' kill them all

The people made him take the fall

By fear, he's forced to heed their call

So Butcher lost his mansion!

Beware

The Beast, the Beast of Loster!

Beware the Beast of Lost!

He is the one we fear the most

For he could surely slaughter

Every single one of us –

But each daughter and son of us

They love him most and love us least!

Beware, oh Lost! Beware the Beast!

Butcher Returns

Days now passed as Jack "the Beast"

Stayed high atop the hill

The children gained prestige with Silver

As had been their will

But as Gold decreased in its value

Butcher grew more ill

The kids knew it would not be too long

before he tried to kill…

And so each night, as light would fade,

The children hid around the streets

To end this twisted game he played

And firmly render his defeat

Their assumption wasn't wrong

Butcher's lust for blood was strong

The True Beast Strikes

The Beast, the Beast of Loster!

Beware the Beast of Lost!

He is the one we fear the most

For he could surely slaughter

Every single one of us

Yea, each daughter and son of us…

The true Beast roared in dead of night

To slaughter children out of spite

How dare they bring in Silver's light!

And make his Gold all useless!

He rampaged through the sacred Glen

No hesitation for children

But nimbly quick, Jack raged within

Now Butcher's mouth is toothless!

I balled up my fist to knock out your lights,

But since you have none, I guess this will suffice.

Fear No More

Roar and roar, oh toothless Beast

But never will you frighten me!

For all the children here, you see,

Love me most, and you the least –

Beware, you crafty Beast of Lost

For it's high time you paid the cost.

The Butcher was revealed to be

The Beast of Loster true.

The people bowed to Jack and asked him

What he'd have them do.

"Your children trade in Silver," said Jack, "while you trade in Gold.

Let now your times yield to the new – your ways are stale and old.

Age and wisdom you all have. Don’t crush your children's dreams.

Use your wisdom – help them live – together as a team.

Accept the value, then, in Silver and in each child's eyes.

Inspire them as they inspire you, and make you wise.”

A Silver Day

Hurray! Hurray! A Silver Day!

The Moon shines brightly as the Sun!

Come out, you children – Let us play!

For Silver's time has just begun!