Week 5: Extra Reading Diary--Pirates and Old Men and Rocs--Oh, My! (Voyages of Sindbad

Once again, rather than an essay, I decided to read the Voyages of Sindbad, just because I was curious about how Sindbad's voyages ended--does he get left behind more times and forgotten for good?  Does he lose all of his wealth?  Or is he really the luckiest man alive?  Let's jump to it!  (Especially since I have a marathon of House of Cards starting shortly, haha.)

11-12. Fifth Voyage- Well, Sindbad, at least if you have your own ship they can't really leave you behind. . . right?  How dare you let them kill the baby roc, Sindbad!!!!  What kind of monster are you?!  Poor momma and poppa roc. . .  How can a ship outmaneuver rocs dropping giant boulders?  That's totally unrealistic (whereas rocs are definitely real. . . I definitely have my facts straight).  Awww, Sindbad, your ship is dead!  You really need to find some better merchant friends.  Sindbad might make a good Aeneas, just saying. . . Poor Sindbad!  Now you're stuck with a random old dude on your back.  If only it was that easy to make wine in real life.  And now we are back to uncommon good luck and coconuts.  Woo!  Who knew you could make a living throwing stones at monkeys?  And, once again, Sindbad is rich with practically no effort.  Wish I was him!

13-15. Sixth Voyage- Yes, Sindbad, it is a marvel that you would risk more trouble after having shipwrecked five times.  And yet, there you go, venturing off once more.  Annnnnddddd there you go, wrecking yet another ship; for shame, Sindbad, for shame!  Way to outlive all your companions!  Are you going to extend your life further by reverting to cannibalism?  No?  Awww. . . Look at that--the power of logic!  Raft away, my dear Sindbad!  Thank you, random "friendly-looking black men"!  You saved Sindbad from certain death!  (He seriously has more lives than a cat.)  I'm Sindbad, the Sailor Man--*toot, toot*!  Fameeee, without love, fameeee, can't get enough. . .  Random mention of Adam; okay, then.  And Sindbad gets more wealth from entertained hosts--it's whatever.  How rich were these random friendly men?  Day-um.  Plus, just because he delivered gifts from one monarch to another, Sindbad receives yet more wealth.  Cool beans.  Return home, my fortunate friend!

16-17. Seventh and Last Voyage- You vow never to leave Baghdad again?  Bah!  You get to deliver a present back to the Serendib peoples.  Go forth, valiant Sindbad!  A bed is definitely the first gift I think to give a foreign leader.  Wow, Caliph, just wow.  Oooooohhhh, pirates.  Sorry, Sindbad, but I might be changing sides here, even if they do kill and enslave people ruthlessly. . . Okay, so maybe not.  Poor Sindbad.  :(  Killing an elephant just for its tusks?  Gahhhhh!  I no longer like you, Sindbad--bad!  (Don't ask why Sindbad has basically becoming a dog in this post--just go with it, haha.)  Such smart elephants!  Take him down!!!. . . Or carry him away!!!  That works too!  More good fortune and wealth for Sindbad--big surprise.

And Sindbad lived happily ever after.  The end!

Arrivederci!!!



Image Information.  Final Frontier; oil on canvas by George Grie.  Wikimedia.