They are somewhere below the surface: Black Barty,
Morgan, Kidd, Teach and Swann, all those hearty
and rollicking murderers who piled up gold
as comical parts of them were shot away.
Still, we all know that the ocean has rolled
over them and their ships, and that one day
we ourselves might find a glittering treasure
they buried, and are richer for it. They did well to add
to our ordinary lives such a possible pleasure,
an enjoyable dream. Were they then so bad
(with courtly bows to captives' pretty daughters,
rolling with doubloons down sunlit seas,
where dolphins cut the flashing gold-green waters,
making landfall in a crimson sunset breeze)
broaching rum on a palm-fringed tropic beach,
under an orange moon? But unfortunately we do not
now have to be told that the reality of Captain Teach
would be something also again, and we know exactly what.
Not so romantic, we feel because we feel him near.
He is out of sight at the moment, but ready to break
surface in real blood and lopped-off limbs and fear
and greed and agony. No movie-prop. No fake.
But think on tropic moons, story-book pirates, celluloid hooks and screams.
We can censor our dreams.
Author notes
Written May 21st, 2005
A contest entry
- Yo ho, Yo ho, A Pirate's life for me! by Christina Prince.
300 points, ended July 12, 2006, 5 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Arg, Matey!!! by Sokarjo.
600 points, ended February 26, 2007, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - POTC by star wars fanatic.
450 points, ended October 6, 2007, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Very nicely written, a critique, perhaps? IDK, but this took it farther than a poem. Nicely done and thanks for entering!
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OOOOoo, excellent point of view for this! I heartily agree, mate, and it's very well done.
Thank'ee for your entry and good luck!
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Arrrgh! T'ank'ee, Matey!
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This was a really eeire peice! Something tells me this poem was about more than just pirates
thanks for entering this into the contest! Now swab the metaphorical poop deck!
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This was a curious piece ("curious" in the most positive sense) as it deftly takes on the storyteller's craft (but, then, remember one of the long, time honored traditions of "poetry" is to be able to spin a good yarn/develop a solid storyline, even if its abstract/surreal in its nature, there needs to be something that holds it and the material's receiver(s) together for one continuous flow...and, without any doubt this poet/poem has it in spades) and weaves it about as a near form of "prose"
, yet a type that speaks to the experiencer as if they were a friend, gaining/giving them a sense of familiarity and, hence, entrapping them within its own realm where the work can, eventually, take the experiencer where the poet/poem pleases. It is with great aplomb that this delightful material, among several ways,
in an aural style that reveals the poet's natural sense of the use of pacing, spacing, use of pattern phrasing and grinning bit of vibrational twinge that almost literally sings to those encountering it...it is, indeed, quite organic...poet-poem-receiver...alive to the point I can hear this being performed
at one of the old bardic circles I use to attend back home and being very well received! Then, it alls comes to an "end," right on point (not an easy thing to achieve for any wordsmith or "written" format)! -
Thank you for your comment which means a lot to me. I think the great thing with rhyme is that it should not be forced, but should be easy, natural and in a sense inevitable, as haiku should be as natural as drawing breath. Of course the art lies in knowing the difference between a natiural and a forced rhyme.`
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I very much like this poem. Usually I'm not fond of forced rhyme, but I didn't mind this. Though, the rhyming was not very apparent to me; I had trouble tracking each line as a separate entity, rather they flowed together and I didn't lapse into the feel of rhyme. This is not a criticism, I thought it was wonderful!
The 'message' of the poem was very deep and thought-provoking. You developed through the piece very gracefully.
Excellent! -
Thank you, it is a typo and I am grateful to you for pointing it out.
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I loved your last line especially, this is a very deep and dark poem which reminded me, very subtly, of the truth about these men- as opposed to the romanticism
Keep writing, I loved this- but should 'murderer' be 'murderers'?
Thanks for your lovely comments
All the best,
Pozo
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Many thanks. You are a fine writer and your praise means a lot to me. i look forward top seeing more of your work.
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Beautifully written, send shivers down my spine. Thinking about the horror of a real confrontation with long lost pirates. OOooooooo scary. Well done. I did love the style and subject matter used!
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Thank you! You say you asre an RN. Is this Registered Nurse or Royal Navy? When dealing with pirates, the difference can be important.
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1 - 13 of 13
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