Hi and welcome back to Nighty Night, but time stories to keep you awake.

I'm your host, Rabi Jodri. This week we move away from prose and into

poetry and visit the story of a strange voyage as told by an ancient mariner to a man on the street.

It starts off as amusing, but then the tale grows darker,

and with it the fear of the listener.

The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Part 1. It is an ancient mariner and he stappeth one of three. By thy long gray beard and glittering eye, now wherefore stopeth

thou me? The bridegroom's doors are opened wide and I am next of kin.

The guests are met, the feast is set,

Mayest hear the Mary Din.

He holds him with his skinny hand.

There was a ship, quote he.

Hold off, unhand me, Greybeard, Loon.

Eftsoons, his hand dropped he.

He holds him with his glittering eye. The wedding guest stood still and listens

like a three years child. The mariner hath his will. The wedding guest sat on a stone, he cannot choose but here, and thus

spake on that ancient man the bright-eyed mariner.

The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, merrily did we drop, below the Kirk, below the hill, below

the lighthouse top.

The sun came up upon the left, out of the sea came he, and he shone

bright, and on the right went down into the sea. Higher and higher every day, till over the mast at noon.

The wedding guest here beat his breast for he heard the loud bassoon.

...