Beware The Isle of Wry

Dark the paths to Wry shall be,

as dark the paths to hell.

If souls shall tread the darkest sea

the devils curse on them befell

To Wry there are no lighted paths

Shadow hath no paved way

Upon the traveler be ill-fated wraths

which doth cross the darkest bay.

For on that fearsome isle lay,

A loathsome royal curse.

The one whose head the crown arrays,

Shall only moan a brimstone verse.

When celestial light has run its course,

And darkness shrouds the earth.

The curse is shown in fullest force

With headless ghouls of royal birth.

Heed the warning these words doth tell,

Seek not for Wry till morning light

When the harbor is in swell

Seek not for Wry till morning light

Or seek not for Wry at all.

BACKGROUND

            This poem comes from a short story called: The Curse of Wry. In the story, locals of a fishing town have a poem that has been passed down through the generations. Parents teach their children the poem to warn them about the mysterious and dark curse placed upon the King and Queen of Wry.