In dusky light he plodded on,
One foot before the last.
His heart it pounded solidly,
As he left behind the past.
The cove at night was eerie,
The steps were pale and sleek,
He clambered up them pensively,
To the sound of distant sheep.
The grikes across the pavement,
Hazards day or dark,
But nothing chilled his heart as much,
As the thought of Malham's sharks.
To his task he was committed,
As many men had been,
When every other road's been walked,
And everything's been seen.
He went to claim the treasure,
As fools before him had,
But he believed he'd get it,
Just like his foolish Dad.
The moon was full and heavy,
It glittered on the tarn,
An unseen crow called warnings,
Then everything was calm.
He took off all that he could spare,
And slowly waded in.
When the water reached his chest,
Began to slowly swim.
It took an age to get there,
Above the deepest part,
But he was glad to reach it,
With no sign of dreaded sharks.
He looked down through the water,
Where surely he could see,
The sparkling of the treasure,
So dived for it with glee.
He thrust towards it grasping hands,
Above him something swam.
He never saw them coming,
Another foolish man.
Shortly after sunrise,
An early walker found,
A neatly folded pile of clothes,
Upon the dewy ground.
A letter in a pocket,
It told a sorry yarn,
Of how the treasure still resides,
With the sharks of Malham Tarn.