Times of Glory: Eternal Cole

The Making of a King

Narration at - Storytime Playlist: Chron Reads - YouTube

4 Eternal Cole

Jack went to the Marketplace in hopes to earn a penny

But this would be a hardy feat – indeed he hadn't any

Little children passed him by in song along the road...

To Market, to Market, to buy a fat pig!

Home again, home again, jiggedy jig!

Eager parents set up stands or carried 'round their load...

Old clothes to mend! Old clothes to mend!

For those in need, old clothes to mend!

The Market was very alive, and brought a wondrous smell...

Hot Cross Buns! Hot Cross Buns!

One a penny, Two a penny -- Hot Cross Buns!

But all Jack had aside from clothing was a Silver Bell.

Ding? Dong? This Bell's all wrong...

It will not toll nor play its song

The Children

Timmy Timmy Funny!

He's like a little Bunny!

Eager hopping, never stopping

Rainy day or Sunny~

Tommy Tommy Fooly

He is such a Bully!

Whacking here and thwacking there

And walking tall and cooly

Johnny Johnny Blueboy

Each day is a new toy

That little jerk, he doesn't work

He just invents a new ploy

As Jack was on the road out walking, three young children caught his eye

If not so comical their talking, Jack truly might have passed them by…

Said Tommy "I went up a flight of stairs."

Said little Timmy, "Just like me!"

"I went up two flights of stairs."

Said little Timmy, "Just like me!"

"I went into a little room."

Said little Timmy, "Just like me!"

"I looked outside a little window..."

Said little Timmy, "Just like me!"

"And there I saw a monkey."

Said little Timmy, "Just like me!"

Tommy laughed for all his glee

Johnny laughed and slapped his knee

Jack came over, quite amused

Timmy scowled. "Hey, who are you!"

Jack grinned and made his hands like claws

Growl in his throat to make them pause

"Raaah!! I am you worst nightmaaare!!"

"Aaah!!" The kids went running scared!

Timmy’s Home

Jack followed after them in fun

Until they got to Timmy's home

His Grandaddy was on the porch

Slowly rocking back and forth

Soft, Grandaddy sang a song...

"Away Away oh working Day

And leave me with the Moon alone

Away Away oh striving Day – And leave the Moon with me."

Little Timmy sang along

"Away Away oh Burning Bees

And leave me with a Peaceful Song

Away Away oh Flaming Bees – And leave a Peace with me."

Grandaddy

"What song is that?" Jack asked the man, "It is a lovely tune."

"It is a song from Far Away, to celebrate the Moon -

They say the Moon will bless a child once upon a time or two."

Then the man, he raised a brow, and asked, "So, who are you?"

Jack told him of his wanderings and of a maiden's hand,

Of Monstrous Potter, Golden Goose, and of his future plans

"I must become someone great, for mine to be with Glory's fate -

But all I own's this Silver Bell that doesn't ring..."

-- "I understand."

The old man smiled kindly. "Timmy's mother's gone to Market.

When she comes back, I'll let her know we have another guest."

Jack started. "Sir! This kindness... I don't know how to accept it!"

Said the man, "Then know: You are to work, and play, and rest."

Jack Becomes His Own

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy

But if Jack were a precious guest, and if he were to get some rest

Then things might work out for the best

Jack stayed with them for a year

Wash a dishes - Catch a fishes - Ho Hi Ho!

Jack, he loved them very dear

Mend a ribbon - Sew a trimmin' - Hi Ho Hi!

Little Timmy was a brother

Blueboy Johnny was another

Like Jack, John had been alone

Until he’d come to Timmy's home

Timmy's mother loved all children

Even Tommy was welcomed in

Jack's life never felt so clear

Song a singin' - Joy a bringin' - Hum Hum Hum!

Timmy and Jack

Timmy, Tiny Timmy –

What happened to your leg?

It was just born smaller than the other

Timmy, Tiny Timmy –

It makes your walking strange!

Shut your mouth or I'll go get my brother!

Johnny? Ha! Johnny won't come!

No! I meant the other one!

See? There he is. Here he comes.

Jack is strong – You'd better run.

Jack came back from Market with a basket full of clothes

Some kids ran fast away: "Come! Let’s get Cross Buns from the Baker!"

Timmy laughed and came to greet him, "Hi Jack! What are those?"

Jack grinned, "Extra cloth I got from the Candlestick Maker."

Timmy made a face. "Mama says he's a no-good tax man."

Jack shrugged. "He had extra! Get good cheap things while you can!"

"Bad things tend to happen, though, when that guy is around...

Fire always follows him and likes to burn things down."

"Let's not think on it right now! Mom's birthday is close, right?

I got this cloth for her – she works so hardy, day and night.

Until I can gain more prestige, I can't quite pay her back...

But with some extra pocket coin, I got this cloth," said Jack

"And we have eggs and flour!" said Timmy. "So we can bake!"

"Good idea," said Jack. "Then let's make our Mom a cake!"

A Birthday Wish

They celebrated birthday dreams and went to sleep that night

But Tommy came to call for Johnny so that they could fish

Timmy wanted to go too, but in vain made his plight

As they ran off, he woke up Jack and told him of his wish

Jack agreed to take him, and they tiptoed out the back

Not knowing at the front that Burning Bees were coming in

The house began to crackle, but by the time the sound reached Jack

Though he returned swiftly, there was no way he could win.

Mother…

The cruelest fate I've ever known is this:

To live within you warm embrace and kiss

And find my comfort by your open arms

Wherein you have protected me from harm

Wherein I've found a joy that makes me strong

By which I've been corrected when I'm wrong

For which I live to fight another day

And wherein my tears are wiped away

This person who is Grace when I am wild

Mother, Dearest Mother of this child,

To live with your tender loving care…

Then wake one day to realize you're not there.

. . .

Grandaddy Longlegs and Mother are gone

And I do not know why I am alone. . .

Jack’s Wrath

A Fire rampaged through the town

It burned many homes to the ground

It targetted first any land

Of those who dealt with Candleman

That night was long with suffering

And hate raged hot for Midas King

Hot and high as any fire

And Jack's rage reached even higher

Candleman, Candleman, Why take so much tax?

I'm employed by Great King Midas so you won't be lax

Candleman, Candleman, All day we break our backs!

And we will suffer you no more now that you've come to Jack's!

Fire rage without

And it may burn down a house

But what it burns within

Will rage outside again!

The Fate of Midas

The people followed Jack

To win their city back

They would not cower now

Not after this attack

They stormed to find the King

For long he’d not been seen

Not for a year or so –

So then, where had he been?

. . . But when they got there

The palace was bare. . .

Statues of the halls of Midas

Gold between our toes

Gold without and Gold inside us

Strike a lasting pose!

For we have touched the hand of Midas

All within its hold

Will surely turn to Gold

They found Midas on his throne, his hand upon his head

He'd turned himself to precious stone, and now he sat there dead

Gold, oh Gold, oh Sorrow

I will not see tomorrow

For all that I once had is precious gone

Hold, oh Hold, oh Castle

To live here is a hassle

For I am ever captive and alone

Destruction and Deliverance

Did this mean that Fire operated on its own?

Jack had an idea how to face the Flame alone

And this idea they would try

For no one else wanted to die.

What defeats Fire? Why, Water, my dear.

What riles Water? Why, Wind.

What stops the Wind? Why, the Earth does my dear

And now we're back where we begin.

Fickle Ladies of the Waters

Will you make a deal with me?

You have pearls, but I have Gold

That I will give you readily

Should you this Fire devastate

For nothing does my heart more Hate!

The Water rose up against Fire

And Fire was swept out to Far Away

Jack's prestige rose higher

He used half the Gold as Water's pay -

The other half to rebuild

The Nearby Towns and Marketplace

Not even half was needed

So they used the rest for Jack's palace

For all the people did agree

That they would have Jack for their King

He was most fit for the role

And was crowned: "Eternal Cole"

No matter how the Fire burned

Jack’s rage was stronger, it had learned.