The Tarzan Story-Poems Series ~Page 1 of 2~ by richard lloyd cederberg   Click on any title below to access NOTE; These story-poems are best read sequentially - first to last “fallen priestess of Opar ... 1” “la’s kalimba ... 2” “tantor warns of sabertooth ... 3” “tarzan confronts the earth sirens ... 4” “kollian beast-men avenge their loss ... 5” “janes abduction … 6” “in the lair of the beast … 7” “jane becomes a catalyst for change ... 8” “the Gretstokes return to England ... 9” Click Here For Page 2 of the Series   “fallen priestess of Opar” (first scene in a burgeoning series of Tarzan story-poems. Tarzan confronts the witchcraft of Opar to save his beloved Jane) Of a darkened import Across the vision threshold Anguished thoughts of his beloved Jane Fill him with wonder as he watches A spectacle unfolding below him, Invoked from incantations, the Magic Circle alchemy of Channeling,  In the nights Lessened lights A sensory pandemic of Fairies’ clad only in the sky, Together a human pentagram Smear of naked sweating breasts Shimmering in moonlight, diaphanous Streamers floating in the lowest branches, Amidst a commingling of ancestral semblances, A brooding Lord of the Jungle watches the Ritual from his perch, outside the walls of Opar, where the priestess broadcasts Spell powder and throat-strokes Chesty words from her Book of Shadows, Slowly the sacrificial knife Descends towards the ashen flesh Of the only woman he would ever love, Mulling the moment, in provision Of the witch’s Demise, Envisioning (Between her eyes) An unexpectedly accurate arrow Piercing her bulwark of arrogant superstition, And ending, in one second, an elemental System of darkened ritualistic killing, Lord Greystoke pulls back his Bow and takes aim -------> In the distance Tantor the Elephant bellows in accord ©richard lloyd cederberg   “la’s kalimba” (SECOND SCENE in a burgeoning series of Tarzan Story-poems.  Dualism .... savagery and compassion) Tarzan, the White skin, gazed Dispassionately down at The horde surrounding him, Predestined to live as Lord Greystoke, And the fierce brutish Ape-man, at one time Suckling the she ape Kala’s hairy mammary, Wild and free, living on the warm bloody Flesh of wild beasts, killing to keep From being killed, and so fluidly Now bridging one part with The other, refinement And the animal Coexisting, He had made Peace with his life, Fully aware that at the heart of Everyone lurked a killer capable of anything Monstrous in its quest to protect self-interest, or what Was loved, or held dear, he understood well that of all he had Come to know - in his short life - that the trickeries of Humans were the most desperate and wicked And that there were many who Sought to kill him As silently as a thought The Jungle Lord leapt down, Steeled muscles rippling beneath his skin, Like Numa he sprang past the wicked cudgels of Frenzied man-beasts, his deadly knife deftly Slicing through a dozen throats and all of Them - blood spurting like geysers - Falling in quivering heaps, This was Tarzan the Savage Killing to avoid being killed To protect the only woman he loved And after, in ritual celebration, thrusting His head towards the heavens with the hideous sound Of a perfervid bull-ape emanating from his throat With Sheeta’s legerity he bounded Unrestrained at the altar where lay his beloved - Breasts in torch glow reddened, her body soft as cashmere – Intently with passion he swept the prostate woman into His arms and smothered her parched lips with kisses; Calmly she aroused to the face of her jungle lord, “I knew you'd come for me my darling,” She whispered At his feet La, Priestess of Opar, Stared at Tarzan with broad Unblinking eyes, she spoke to him in The language of the apes: “Kreegah ry-balu-den!” Tarzan nodded, and, replying also in the language said: “I choose to show mercy to La. I take no pleasure in killing. You were once kind to me and I am grateful.” With these words La pulled herself erect, For a moment tears streaming From eyes set on Tarzan's magnificence, Fidgeting with her gold bracelets she began Plucking at a kalimba brought from her tunic, Intrigued with the sound Tarzan gazed At the trickle of blood where His arrow had grazed Her neck, La was glowing now in A warmth of transcendence as He listened to her strange melody, Seeing a wash of emotions chasing across the woman’s Features, he motioned for her to speak:  “Lot ro, mu, por-atan, por-kalan?” “Yes, I am her husband,” he affirmed and pulled Jane closer. “She is my wife. I do not love La, I spared La’s life. La was once kind. I am Tarzan of the Apes.” In an instant they had Disappeared into the trees, In the distance Tantor bellowed, They knew of Tarzan's love for Jane, He could hear the herd had grown and The earth rumbled now with their approach ~La’s phrases taken from the Ape-English dictionary: 1. Kreegah …… Beware, danger 2. Ry-balu–den …. Bow 3. Lot ……..... Face 4. Ro ……….. Flower 5. Mu ………. She 6. Por-atan ….. Husband 7. Por-kalan …… Wife ©richard lloyd cederberg   tantor warns of sabertooth … 3 THIRD SCENE in a burgeoning series of Tarzan story/poems – from afar wickedness cometh … Tarzan’s commands to Tantor; Korak … killer Skree … wildcat Kas … jump Tantor, with His excellent horde, Drew near to the clearing - just Above him Tarzan and Sugarplum Were slumbering in the nook of a tree - Rearing up on thickly muscled legs he bellowed His arrival to the Jungle Lord and, in so doing, Sent all lesser life scurrying behind Him Where only a swath of devastation Remained upon which all lay Broken from the herd’s Fierce journey… From a great Distance they had come, Tantor’s ears having sensed The jungle lord summoning him, And his mighty equatorial pachyderms Rallying in accord, and all aware of La’s coven of deformed Beast priests seeking sacrifice, And the peril wrought of a loathsome Sabertooth now freed from his place of Immurement in the Earths vast labyrinths, Borne to the surface upon a Daemon Dragon; Tantor and his mighty brothers had come to council With Tarzan for a plan to forestall the invasion And restore order to the jungle hierarchy In great delight Lord Greystoke leapt To the ground near where His old friend shook and stomped, In a show of pure primordial exultation - Now contented to leave Jane sleeping - he Raised his arms in keenest admiration to his Friend, as etheric feelings flooded through both, From a source always sensed but misconstrued, still, Between them, fragments of past years became tapestries, In depth, detailing the exploits of their unquestionable Camaraderie and of their finding oneness, Without articulations, Without pretense, Or anything concocted, A consummate merging of forces Walking together in the jungle where, When no obstacle prevented them, Tarzan Rode high upon the dreadnaughts powerful back In the cool of nighttime’s moonlit magnificence, With grunts and piffling sounds, together, Communicating of conquering and both Sensing a fullness of perfection in the Creation they both had been thrust And given sustenance from Very near now, Unbeknownst to them, A fierce predator was crouching In the shadows, intent on the mighty Dreadnaught, and the Lord of the Jungle, A powerful scent of Jane in his nostrils and with Growing bloodlust hungering for female flesh Upon which huge razor tooth’s, With little endeavor, Would gorge Deeply- Curiously he looked at The pachyderm’s trunk resting Upon Tarzan’s shoulder and listened As Tantor told of Saber-tooth’s rampage In the northlands, Decimating all To clear a path for The sirens of Torfar-Kolla This in a quest to wrest personally From Numa his title, as King of the Beasts, and To unleash an invasion from Pellucidar’s underbelly Of a sudden, ears attuned, Tarzan looked up to witness in time The snarling face of a crazed man-eater, “TANTOR,” Tarzan screamed and pointed up, “KORAK SKREE KAS!” With his mighty trunk Tantor Thrust Tarzan into the tree where, with the savage scream Of a bull ape, he bare his knife and lunged to defend his woman ©Richard Lloyd Cederberg   tarzan confronts the earth sirens … 4 FOURTH SCENE in a burgeoning series of Tarzan Story-Poems – Earth unleashes an ancient evil From the Ape-English dictionary 1. Ala … Rise 2. Unk … Go 3. Wala … Home 4. Manu … Monkey 5. Mangani … Great Apes 6. Tarmangani … White Men/Women 7. Jabo … Shield With rampageous curbing Behavior, having profaned the Natural hierarchy of the jungle, to Usurp Numa’s majesty and to Spearhead an invasion Of withering intent; A mighty nemesis, Was foiled and Lay lifeless… Tarzan Was victorious And for several moments Silenced all around as he stood Upon the Sabertooth and proclaimed His victory ululate with hideous savagery Restless were the pachyderms In the aftermath Encircling The scourge Lying prostrate And all grunting now In mono-syllabic gutturals, Being eager to depart all stomped The ground fussily and Demanded of Tantor That Tarzan and Jane Accompany them back to the Land of Waziri near where Sabertooth Had been borne to the surface upon the back Of a Dragon, from old times, and where traditional Knowledge spoke of a passageway to Pellucidar And Opar’s sister city Torfar-Kolla… John Greystoke, Embracing Lady Jane Greystoke, Leapt upon the back of his old friend, “Ala Tantor, unk wala!” He ordered smiling Bellowing his approval Tantor departed the clearing As they went Hues of lazuline and cerise Morphed flawlessly across an Exculpated September sky, Staring heavenward Tarzan sensed Imbalances in the Natural order rippling Through the atmosphere from The distant mountains - he sensed Earth had re-birthed an ancient evil That he soon would contradict, Minutes later an Inky black enshrouded Them in silent requiem, as if the Daughter of Erebus had descended and Thrown a shroud upon the equatorial forest; Tarzan sighed and, though his mind was troubled, He resolved to press on Into a devastated valley they entered At the first moments of daybreak Where thick Cimmerian gloom, Smelling of sulfur and flesh, Was as mephitis upon Tarzans senses, Around them The burnt Mangled bodies of Brave Waziri warriors Lay lifeless from fearsome battle, Tantor was restless, and Manu, now Chattering nervously, took to the trees, as Mangani quickly melded back into the forest- Of a sudden the ground rumbled, With a great pounding of beastly hooves And then stopped across the clearing; The Apemans keen eyes could see, Inside the edge of trees, Horrid faces Drooling fire in Hideousness of intent, His muscles steeled as he watched one Daemon amble arrogantly into the clearing, Upon its back a woman clung doggedly to bony Protuberances along the neck, jubilantly naked, her breasts Full and hair flowing, her four limbs encircled with Pagan tattoos; These were the EARTH SIRENS of ancient times, he knew, Vomited up from hell to destroy the order of things With great commotion The Dragon hordes of Pellucidar’s Underbelly ascended above The forest canopy To engage their Most feared threat Whose anger now stirred greatly, Eyes burning savagely Tarzan leapt Catlike to the ground and commanded: “Tantor, jabo tarmangani” Bellowing in accord the mighty dreadnaught herd Moved away with Jane to a safe distance, as the Jungle Lord, With fierce purpose, fitted his first poison arrow to take a stand Against these loathsome denizens of a dark and forgotten time ©richard lloyd cederberg   kollian beast-men avenge their loss … 5 FIFTH SCENE in a burgeoning series of Tarzan Story-Poems – with his great victory there comes great loss Taken from the Ape-English dictionary:  1. Manu … monkey’s  2. Mangani … bull-apes  3. Tarmangani … white man/woman  4. Wappi … antelope  5. Sopu … fruit  6. Popo … eat  7. Po … hungry  8. Uber … thirsty  9. Tand-vulp … empty 10. Rak … yes In bowelless zeal, to secure a Vantage, Tarzan looses a poison arrow, Which, with laser accuracy, penetrates well the Dragon’s underparts, his third finding the malefic heart; Now punctured indiscriminately, its beating ends And the creature plummets With a great gasp From the sky, A lifeless Mass quivering - The wild disorders, And vulturine taste for Human flesh stymied forever - As rider, in raging demonstration, Screams at a disconcerted assembly And jumps to the back of another, which Has maneuvered to rescue the siren from death At once the swarm begins circling together to descend Upon, and gird, the mighty Jungle Lord as he looses One poison arrow after another, Settling lower and lower Until great wings barely moved, Tarzan was surrounded and cut off, And the sirens having now transformed into Sharply taloned anomalies - half woman half beast - In freakish ritual drooling to gorge on Tarmangani flesh; Hideous were their shrieks as they closed on the cold-eyed Ape-man who in stoic steadfastness had felled another dragon “Tantor … ATTACK!” Tarzan screamed At once Great pachyderms Burst noisily from the jungle, And all in accord aiming to impede The swarm now hovering closely, who, In utter shock began thrashing to escape As the behemoths, bellowing indignantly, Reared back on powerful legs to grip The clawed hooves, with mighty Sinewy trunks, to force them Down and with colossal Strength forestall Their flight… Enraged at the Effectiveness of this The once beautiful women Spit venomous invectives at Tarzan As another shout from him alerted mangani From above where they sat watching “Akut … ATTACK,” Tarzan commanded Akut’s fierce roar Drowned out all other sounds As his impassioned clan of bull-apes, Snorting savagely, Leapt down From the Trees upon the (Now) wide-eyed Scourge of hell hags where, With brute force, they dismembered Them with grisly effectiveness amidst their Panic-stricken execrations to floundering gods When the last was rent in pieces Mangani sank its fangs into the necks Of the dragons in a show of disdain for them And then leapt to the ground roaring and beating Chests swollen in a savage show famished to Devour the warm flesh of many kills… But Tarzan, Holding up a hand, Warned of the dangers Of witch flesh; a thing that Never dawned on them, being the Nervous brute beasts that they were; Akut nodded and pointed at his stomach: “Po ubor, tand-vulp Tarzan” he grumbled wearily “Rak, popo, sopu o wappi” He replied… As the apes Departed Tarzan Instructed Tantor to Loose the remaining dragons, And, as mighty trunks eased their Tenacious grips upon them, each took Flight angrily and all spat and cursed and Shrieked in fiery demonstration at the Jungle Lord As they flew north into the mountains Clammy sweat beaded Upon Tarzans brow as he gazed at The worst carnage he’d ever known, still In gratefulness he knelt and gave thanks to The Great Spirit for his life and the lives of his Dauntless beast-friends and for his … Starting with a jolt he Spun around in Dread aspect: “Jaaaaane, are you well?” He trembled “I am my darling,” she responded at once Now standing At the jungles edge Jane cowered in revulsion At the sight and ran to her lord, Her full breasts hardening against His magnificently muscled torso as she Lovingly embraced him with many kisses… Around them morning was blossoming, thick Clouds had thinned and effulgent shafts of sunlight Were filtering down in warming ribbons as the Jungle capitulated beneath heavens felicity, Excited and loquacious Manu had rejoined the Jungle Lord, To offer assistance in any way they could, Knowing his supply of arrows had been exhausted Tarzan instructed them to retrieve as many as They could; all scurried off chattering It was unclear What transpired in The next few moments as He and Jane made ready to depart… A subtle commotion had harkened his ears From across the clearing, where brooding mists still hung Reluctantly under a clearing sky; near the carnage he witnessed A drove of aberrant man-beasts materialize, as if birthed from the Humus; of a sudden something hit his head with great force and, amidst A cloud of contradictions, he fell on his knees to Jane’s frightened screams, Her clothes, having been torn from her body, now lay scattered around Him; through dimming eyes he saw the naked form of his beloved Being carried off by the clan of hideous man-beasts – moments Later blackness embraced him and he collapsed ©richard lloyd cederberg   “janes abduction” … 6 (SIXTH SCENE in a burgeoning series of Tarzan Story-Poems. Jane is thrust into the unknown and tested beyond her abilities) Taken from the Ape-English dictionary: 1. Mangani ... Bull apes 2. Sheeta ... Panther 3. Numa ... Lion 4. Tantor ... Elephants A dampened jungle clearing was All that remained of a wild struggle, The day following, and being devoid of life, Except the few beasts who, in dour vigil, quietly Observed the still form of Tarzan prostrate Upon moist humus with Akut (a bull-ape) Squatted where he’d dragged him to Refuge Just beyond The battlefield Upon which now lay Two diminished dragons, Mangled oddments of sirens, Dozens of burnt Waziri warriors, All ripening now in a raging equatorial sun And, upon which, scavengers had begun A grisly carrion repast… And while Tarzan moved not, Mangani kept him safe from Snakes, and stinging insects, and from Sheeta, and Numa, and all the while meting Water and the juice of fruits upon his parched lips For sustenance as a bated jungle waited for their Lord to return from his purgatory of plight And a way away, Jane’s abductors - being Desperate to avoid Mangani’s Terrors and the massive strength Of Tantor’s dreadnaughts - Had followed a route Into the bowels of the Earth By way of an unknown passage Where the clamoring cacophony of Descent - plagued amidst a tangled web Of many roots, loosened rocks, gaping crevices, And foul discharges - echoed forbidding to Their dismay and fear, all the same, Despite the risks, they Had chosen this Way to avoid, At all costs, Savage beasts Descending upon them Unexpectedly and now persuaded of Tarzans great wrath being kindled against them For the criminal acts of which all suffered, In phrenetic anticipation, A gruesome demise At his hands, And all were Blabbing nervously, As they clambered along, In their efforts to reanimate The white-skin from the harboring Deep swoon which - proving futile - was Harkening another fear of retribution from The underlords if any harm befell their female Prize or any slight blemish was visited Upon her perfect nakedness And in suddenness Jane awakened, hours later, In a barren dungeon, chiseled from a Solid mass of plutonic rock, resting on a mat Of unscented moss, raised from the floor upon A solid granite pedestal; her hands bound with vines To a wooden post above her head and her legs To metal rings at the foot of the slab; She was utterly helpless; But remained cool; And when she Had made Full account of Her plight, and also That she was untouched, she Gave thanks and then increasing her Awareness’s she saw across the room a Stairway glowing from a distant light, And near this opening were Six hard-bitten Hags with long white Hair, of human origin, and All having the appearance of living Skeletons covered with leathery Skin, spotted and sagging; and Jane noticed one was Stirring something, The contents of which Was making more unfit an Already tyrannous atmosphere, and There were two others agaze and two were Dipping ladles into a hole in the floor, and the last, Amidst her utterances, had begun pouring perfumed Water upon Jane’s body in an ablutionary ritual When suddenly Jane’s surroundings Seemed to disappear, and Around her a warm luminance sated The room from which, some way away, An aberration was ascertained and a voice Was plainly heard saying: “Approach me!” And when she obeyed the Restraints vanished and her Naked skin became radiant and was Charged emotionally as she watched two Large manuses materialize and extend towards Her with what appeared, (at first glance) to be A delicately braided chain, around which Radiant colors undulated, and from Which a sense of eudaimonia Emanated from… And Jane, desiring to have it, Reached out and took a hold of it, After which she felt courageous strength Poured into her and her outwardness deepened; And when the hags Saw this they Waxed deferent Towards Jane and,  Genuflected in respect, and When they had, all aspects of Aging tegument permuted in each And all (no longer leathery or sagging) Began glowing in transcendent adoration… “And who is it that seeks me?” Jane cried out boldly. “I am Forali of the Kollians’,” his guttural voice thundered In an oily spectrum of timbres, “and because Tarzan has Seen fit to destroy my sirens I have taken you from the Upperlands to serve me in my subterranean realm.” “NO, I cannot,” Jane stiffened, “I am Tarzan’s And I will NOT serve YOU or the Kollians …” At once she had Determined his actual Intent as being retaliation in a Quest to use her against Tarzan and, In so doing, advance his criminal ambitions While forcing his lubricity upon her as he pleased; Enraged now (because of her rejection) the room began Morphing as the delicate chain began to be whipped about madly, And as the fuller frequencies settled deep within her ears, an inanimate Power manifested near her and she was forced down upon the cold stone Floor where, with fervency, she recoiled back to her feet only to find The route of escape occluded by a hideous creature now Emerging towards her from the shadows ©richard lloyd cederberg   “in the lair of the beast” … 7 (SEVENTH SCENE in a burgeoning series of Tarzan Story-Poems. Being without Tarzan, but being wisely enlightened, Jane outfoxes Forali, the Kollian Underlord) Being Both fascinated And horror-stricken, Jane Staggered back in astonishment When the creature was in full perspective- “What in the world are you?” She cried As the brute angled down to leer At her nakedness; “I am god of Torfar-Kolla,” He mouthed in fearsome timbre As a great wet tongue fell from his Bestial mouth and slithered towards her… Completely unnerved Jane recoiled back in Consummate horror, where, with fervency, She petitioned the Great Spirit for Strength and wisdom… Then, With precipitance, Her mind was afforded To see beyond the grotesque Façade (with the keenest acumen) Into a life muddy with malady, And all things vulgar and criminal, And all things immoral and deplorable, Deep into the sallow heart of an Aberrations Stewing sorrow For the relentless burden of a Depraved and tormented existence… Within Moments Jane’s fear was supplanted with bravery And she met the creature’s gaze intensely focused to Represent her life at all costs… Puzzled, Forali handed her  Two beautiful scant pieces,  From which she further inferred  His pent desires for ornamenting female Breasts and the callipygian ideal to make of her An apotheosis to be worshipped and held in esteem above Other denizens in the realm over which he ruled in fear… And as She held these Skimp pieces she took Note of her reflection in a rounded Fallal on the chain of the ornate thong And saw that her hair had changed, and That her musculature had been toughened, And that her skin was radiating with burnished Effulgence and she understood (then) the great power With which the chain was imbued and plotted to Steal it, to gain an advantage… Knowing her plight, She adorned her body With these scant pieces and Blended into the shadows where, with Cunning, she knelt before him to implement A plan to outwit him; To bedevil his thinking with enticement, And to use, through subterfuge, his Depraved nature against him… Nearer she maneuvered, to both his groping Hands, so that he might bear upon her Rubenesque Form and, in so doing, accelerate his vile imagination, And after according him just one fingers brush Upon her supple skin, she retreated To ask quizzically: “Do you desire me?”… There was No response, But Forali’s groans Became pronounced, and His eyes opened wide, and the Flesh along his spine quivered as he Whirled in a stupor of consummate thwarting… “What must I do for her?” The beast pondered aloud: “Does she desire power? Should I lavish her with wealth? I will build her a city to rule over and give her servants, She will lack for nothing, and we will rule together, Tell me what Jane wants?” Unaffected By this entreaty Jane replied simply: “To possess the chain”… The creatures face became Animated in a wash of inexplicable Expressions and, within seconds, it began Fearfully lamenting his predicament as if Jane Was a promethean interloper who wanted to steal The fire from his Olympus; Jane knew now That she was on her own, Alone, with no one to help her… And though she sensed Forali Would do anything to please her, in Her heart she yearned for Tarzan’s touch, only, For the potency of his lips upon hers, only, for his Closeness, only, and she yearned to be rescued by Him, only, from this abomination of circumstances That would surely test her beyond Any ability she possessed… Fearful of the coming moments; Jane girded herself and, with the bravest Determination, suppressed the tears (now) begging Release as she recalled those harrowing last moments With her beloved jungle lord; (so long ago it seemed) And when Tarzan’s magnificent love at last Sated her heart and spirit, She broke down and Wept bitterly… And when Forali saw This up-welling of anguish, And the heaving of her breasts, And her tears, in the flickering fire glow, Glistening upon velvet cheeks (as adamants) Something in his tortured temperament threw down And, with an unexpected softening, he reached out and Gently laid the delicately braided chain upon Jane’s shoulders ©richard lloyd cederberg   “jane becomes a catalyst for change … 8“ (EIGHTH SCENE in a burgeoning series of Tarzan Story-Poems. From above and below a vast multitude converges) Taken from the Ape-English dictionary: 1. Unk-nala … climb 2. Yud … come 3. Vulp … full 4. Akut … leader of bull-apes 5. Numa … great lion 6. Ko-sabor … lioness 7. Mangani … great apes 8. Sheeta … black panther 9. Bolgani … gorillas 10.Manu … monkey’s In her hands The chain began to Resonate (with keen warmth) As a sphere of eddying colors formed, Beyond the length of the twirling chain, and the Atmosphere, tinctured with crystalline sounds, Sated the senses in serene sound… But following this A violent convulsing Began and all foundations, Upon which Torfar-Kolla had once Been built, shook with spasmodic intensity… And though dread gripped Jane’s heart, Stillness settled upon her when She saw that her original form had Returned, and that her hair was auburn and long, As it had been, and that the scant pieces had vanished… So Jane accepted, again, what was coursing Around her and with a stoics temperament Watched in steadfast determination As the fabric of space Changed; seeming to her now all As a mist dissipating beneath sunlight’s Calefacient rays to reveal mysteries obscured… How Handsome The sights were that Filled Jane’s limpid eyes; Abundant sceneries, fertile with life, And a fine grandeur of gardens rich in seasonal Florescence filled her heart with a scented notion That Tarzan was nearer than before, And then, In her anticipation, Did the air wax redolent Of sweet jasmine, of hyacinth, Of dahlia, and of winter’s honeysuckle, and, Again being contented, Jane began glowing in The fullness of her lord’s unflagging love…  In suddenness the Hard-bitten hags appeared around Jane in groups, coming from every direction As nomads, once lost, having now found their way, And all weeping together in a Harmony of thankfulness (With resolve) Their tears, As a freshening rain,  Began releasing their hearts From a great deprivation of soul borne Upon them from the miseries endured from Being imprisoned (for so long) by so great an evil; No longer ugly, sagging, leathery, or cadaverous, each Woman’s countenance had turned angelic; Restored Mysteriously To a soft nature, Genteel in manner, With flowing thick hair, And penetrating pure eyes, Their spirit’s radiating life and love, And as honeybees and ants they joined Together in purpose and one spoke saying: “Once we were as you, Jane, upon the surface We dwelt in peace, with our families we prospered And we loved, but we were taken, as you were taken, to Serve Forali and to satisfy his evil schemes, but there Was nothing lasting in it and we were struck with A curse for our rebellion and we prevailed (As we were) smitten for all seasons… Now we will join with you, Jane, In requital against Forali And his minions …” And because of Jane’s bravery the Wicked façade was removed and all that Was before was revealed again in its fullness… Forali roared as he saw these things Converging upon him, and, in his helplessness, He appealed to his gods, (in fear and trembling did He caterwaul) but nothing could stop the transmutation Of an evil kingdom he had so painstakingly created … Now as Jane, with great vigor, twirled the chain, Forali became another In appearance, And in temperament;  No more the dithering aberration - Deformed, lustful, twisted, and artful - A violent muscled goliath arose from the Pits; being twice the height of a normal man He stood erect upon two massive oaken legs with Arms as pythons and from his twisted snarling lineaments Horrifying malevolence oozed as a most fetid sewage… In great urgency he summoned All that would hear his voice, From every corner of his Subterranean labyrinth He summoned them, And they came In hordes and herds, They came at his beckoning To accomplish his terrible bidding, From beneath and beyond they appeared - Roundabout Jane and the women, (now trembling In outrage of innocence) - each in personal and hideous Fulfillment of choice these creatures appeared in gross Indifference to anything save the malevolence Festering in their scarred bestial minds… And around Jane A great evil chant oiled the air as Hordes of beast-men snake-men, founding’s, And all aberrant brutish creations yielded To Forali’s conjuring schemes and Raised up in accord together To empower him With hellish accolades, With flattery and innuendoes, With all manner of deceitfulness, and When delirium waxed feverish Forali swelled In arrogance and commanded his hoards to spiflicate  The women, and Jane, and return to him the chain… But there was  Another voice greater than Forali’s and all were struck dumbfounded In horror as it thundered with savage determination: “AKUT … UNK-NALA!”   Forali stared aghast as A clan of fierce bull-apes emerged From the far distant peripheries; growling With bared fangs they climbed and perched upon The jagged promontories overlooking the assembly… “NUMA YUD VULP!” It again ordered … Numa strode into view with proud eyes blazing With Ko-sabor at his side, And then came Mangani in droves, With Sheeta slinking at a distance growling, And Bolgani, convinced of victory, joined reluctantly With Manu and all were carrying sticks and rocks and had Effectively encircled Forali’s evil hordes, roiling now in confusion, As they waited for their leader to make some decision… Appearing suddenly In the midst of the women Tarzan told them to gather together  In a circle, and then he swooped Jane into His muscled arms and leapt with her to a high Perch, away from danger, where she would be safe From the wet slaughter that would surely ensue-  “My darling,” she sobbed limp in his arms… Gently, As she smothered Him with kisses, he released her, “Remain here,” he whispered softly, and then, With brutal focus, he leapt agilely to the granite floor Knife drawn; posturing fiercely he roared at Forali: “DO YOU SURRENDER?” ©richard lloyd cederberg   “the Greystokes return to England … 9“ (NINTH SCENE in a burgeoning series of Tarzan Story/Poems …. After Forali’s hordes are annihilated, several summonses from their son hasten the Greystokes return to England) A crimson drubbing Ensued when Forali refused Tarzans entreaty to surrender: His Reaction being one of tumescent arrogance After ordering his aberrations to kill the women and the Jungle beasts hunkered down patiently watching, With fangs bared, as they waited for their lord To free them upon Forali’s hordes… Now, far above Tarzan, Jane was whirling the chain, With aroused fervor, to impart clarifying strength To those women climbing up towards the crenellations Skirting the subterranean fortress where, after arriving, all Lauded Tarzan of the Apes with intense exhilaration … Being surrounded Now, and utterly fuddled, Forali hurtled blindly at the Ape-man, Who, with Manu’s legerity, easily side-stepped The clumsy attempt… At once Tarzan Ordered his beasts, with Bloodcurdling demonstration, to Attack Forali’s hordes after which he Sprang savagely upon the monster and plunged His knife repeatedly into the massively muscled shoulders… Roaring in great anguish Forali, with tremendous resolve, Heaved Tarzan a dozen yards from him Where he lay momentarily stupefied, but Forali Reacted not to his advantage, instead he remained Stock-still staring stunned, dithering (with mouth agape) At his beloved army being annihilated by the beasts of Tarzan…   PART TWO Four weeks later- The incident being Behind them, our heroes were Safe again and rested after a time of Rejuvenation at their vast African plantation- Once again civilized in demeanor and appearance, John, and Lady Jane Greystoke, had chartered passage Aboard the Norwegian vessel ‘Aborantha’  (Both were returning to England) At the behest of their only son, Jack, Whose importunity had alerted them to a Woeful predicament -- his wife Meriem and he Being devastated with the abduction of their only child Jonathan and both being desperate after accepting (as true) The note left in the child’s crib cruelly positing: “Tell your Father his grandson will die if he does not return And settle our business”… The young couple was inconsolable And had no recourse other than obeying the Demand of this unscrupulous character who had altered – in A single declamatory note - the entire course of the Greystoke family… So they embarked From a port in Mauritania, sailing North past Western Sharah, on a northern Heading that took them east of the Canary’s and Madeira Island, along the Moroccan coast and Portugal Up towards Galicia Spain… And as it was For three days the Sea remained tranquil, which Was mollifying to the passengers, who, Being self-centered ladies and gentlemen chose, After a secret meeting, to bring charges against the Stewards for what was being viewed as shoddy service, (Considering the price they were paying) So a select group Began demanding (of the Captain) a Better attending so that they might Revel in their passageway with No cares or worries… Foreseeing being litigated The Captain yielded to the committee’s Demands and apprised his stewards to begin, Forthwith, catering to all whims, which empowered the Passengers, who, being of a royalist mindset, were Confident that they had somehow wrested Control of the vessel… Now, being swollen With this perceived victory, They began to compete uppishly With one another – in childish kerfuffle’s And swinish fluttering - to impress and outdo Everything the other was doing, or suggesting, and When the ships delicacies had been served each reclined Smugly beneath a warming sun, Wrapped up in themselves, Basking leisurely In salutary brisk air, Doing as they well pleased, Recreating with cards and shuffleboard, Ordering the stewards about, flitting and flicking Presumptuously, imbibing and gorging with abandon, Being as gourmands and nincompoops laughing rakishly At one another’s rodomontade’s, and all ignorantly unaware that Just above them, in the ships riggings, John Greystoke sat brooding… On the fourth day, As the Aborantha was entering The Bay of Biscay, a fearful tempest Descended upon them… Steadfastly the Ship’s Captain fought to Maintain the vessels stability, Against all adversity, as it forged forward Upon hellish seas wroth in nature’s ever-changing Humors, at times ascending (a hundred feet or more) upon Fearsome mountainous waters, where it teetered on the brink Momentarily, and then slid dizzyingly into deep troublesome troughs, Where, at times great blackened vortexes appeared - redolent Of Poe’s Maelstrom- and again and again the vessel rose And fell upon ramping seas, as thunder exploded Like cannonade, and lightening hit the water In jagged white-hot traceries Near the bow John Greystoke was standing hunched, As a fiendish wind ripped at his face and bitter Cold stabbed through his heavy garment like needles; Being captive to a demeanor of unflinching stoicism, he was seldom Beset with dangerous circumstances, and only in unforgiving determination Did his eyes remain firmly fixed ahead as he envisioned a fitting Vengeance upon the author of his family’s dire dilemma ©richard lloyd cederberg 8/11 Click Here For Page 2 of the Series   Other Works by richard lloyd cederberg: Poetry Other Story-Poems Essays Flash Fiction Short Stories ~*~ Website Home Page