Noah's Journey

[Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] I'm going to read you a story it's called Noah's journey and it deals with basically four elements the building of the Ark the entry of the animals the battle with the elements and the landing on Ararat off we go first there was the building of the Ark Oak is the Keel he is aged and gnarf faced see he is here with his acorns edged leaves off with his bark and his big Roots Oak is an old friend lays down his light beams dips them in warm tar submits to Varnish on one side is all washed and ready for when storm comes I'm well grained I lie flat hold off the water and Float on the waves once grounded I wait for a sailing Alert in the sun pine pine is the mast he is upright smooth straight and long limed he moves like a ramrod casting aside all his twigs and his branches a few cones curling an eyebrow predict when rains je standing in place now spun in a socket he sets like a mapole an oil bowl of Redwood screwed to the low deck I rise to the cold Stars the sea Waits tossing a little the Black Earth lingers to wave me a long farewell now that the ark has been built all of the animals are to be gathered for the ark Mouse comes first you can find him in holes out of the steel trap he would take your cheese with a flip of his foot but flung down the hard cold hat comes and is off with his ears is it so mouse out of your wooden house come and answer me there is work for your teeth in the ark Noah Noah I dare not come out uh there are too many cats and I fear for my tail I will come out for some Bree that's cheese Lynx is my Lookout he can see in the MC y Falls the fog but the perk eared Lynx feels Vigilant on the branch of the Mast he is pinned by his claws telescoped in muscle Waits Lynx for the land with a leap he will land be the first one on Ararat a peak links I'm anxious to rest my eyes look uh keep me away from The Dazzle of the zebra and the of the leopard I I'll stare at the plain beer here are you there why you smell of honey you voracious small beer I have you come with your pores all sticky go down to the sink you must dance for your supper and it won't be sweets coarse brown bread for omnivorous beers and a beaker of brine if we have to keep washing you and drinking water well I'm sorry Noah but I grew quite faint so I stopped by a high for a rest and a meal let me give you a hug tiger is a stick along railings like a ripple in a lake he is lodged in your eye come tiger you are here tense senu in the rain stretch out on the poop glare over the orb of the ocean and frighten the hail we are safe mued up in our tub with a tiger to care for us tiger look Fierce with a Roar and a bounce I will tear up the clouds keep plenty of meat though for me I will wait like a rug crocodile creeps out of the swamp with a creek and a snap he is made like a bag he can float for a day without winking an eye in the mud of the bayou he has pondered the flood and decided to miss it so come in Long crocodile and crawl to your space you can help make logs we shall soon need a fire lie there and snap well I would snap with a will but I have a tooth a though please no way you give me a pill in a mouth like mine pain Sprouts like a bush [Music] last in his loose gray skin in the sun you can see brown hairs on his back I'm sure he will help pul the ark along the flat Canal to the flood when the water is come he's not forgetful of all the food he will need have you brought green leaves ant-like and prudent elephant I I know I've haul this tree it will feed you me for a year is there space in the barge whale must swim by the side of the ship if I take a dip I can ride safe back on his broad blue head Whale is the biggest are you not vast whale in a storm you can shelter the ship from the waves and I will feed you for this with plenty of Plankton I'm partial to Plankton I'll swim by your side yes I will swim by the arc's hind rim and soothe the poor Beast who are sick once they built the ark and brought the animals together they set sail and then began the battle of the elements thunder thunder [Applause] lightning rain is the one who goes on he is flung p p p p from a tip bowl of dry peas wet fur wet wood wet Wings wet canvas the whole wide world is a wash in a slle of beans rattle rushed down comes the roof in a slush of cold glass bits below decks glum beasts peir out and steam dry slowly I pour on always in motion the flow in the air I Slither to all points and fill Earth top full of water of water of Water wind is the last one a wild thing over the fles that sea the smooth sea he wanders whistling a thin tune a high tune a shrill tune whirling the waves to a white wizzed Whi cream zing zing zing and the Ark like a roundabout rolls up and down up and down in a frenzy packed close like sardines the poor beasts are all sick I breathe on puffing my fat cheeks I fill the small Ship Sails blow it towards sand send it to New Shores [Applause] and now we have the end of the journey The Landing at Ararat sand clutches the Keel in his cool hands the whole ship sinks in his soft flesh that grates to the Timbers aoy sand say uh may we step down uh and and stand on your smooth back uh first comes uh Lynx is my Lookout his firm claws hardly can scar your salt washed skin yes you may land but but just the insects come out first I must get used to the peck of your feet send the small first rock is ahead of us the old hard land here the rhinoceros May stamp his great foot again leap High Antelope roll over Lion on his bare skin he feels like a new Beast the solidest the Silent not for a growing in but learning to walk on Noah I'm feeling bruised pour me some oil from the liver of your sperm whale I need a little to ease my old pores grass grows beyond Rock the fur of the soaked Earth the sweet green coat of the land we must stand upon hold their grass are you dry behind the ears after all that rain are you ready for my green fly to clamber in your hair make room for my elephant to land on your hide Noah you may safely land I was the first to dry this is your warm and expected Haven and here is your long lost Dove and your Raven Noah's Journey the end [Applause] [Music]