Two mighty navies met in Abu Qir Bay;
One would be driven off, and the other would stay.
In the shallow bay Bonaparte’s grand fleet prepared
After three months, did Lord Nelson have them ensnared?
French Admiral Brueys chained together his fleet
To keep his ship’s line intact and stave off defeat.
Leisurely the French prepared for the coming fight
Never believing the attack would come at night.
Nelson ordered his captains to attack at will.
Goliath approached to where the French ships lay still.
Slipping between the French and the Egyptian shore
She went over the chain and was followed by more.
A north wind blew favoring the attacking Brit
And four French warships were unable to commit.
The British pressed their attack upon the French line.
One by one the French warships were forced to resign.
Brave Bellerophon engaged L’Orient first.
Her sailors poured forth blood to slake the war god’s thirst.
As L’Orient’s cannons repeatedly blasted,
The Bellerophon drifted away, demasted.
The Alexander next closed with the French flagship
Swiftsure came forward and let her big cannons rip.
The flamboyant French warship was soon set ablaze
In anticipation the Brits sailed off a ways.
On Goliath, John Nicol felt the dreadful blast;
L’Orient’s magazine blew, the shockwave roared past.
For thirty minutes the combatants stood in awe
Battle-hardened vets could not believe what they saw.
Nine hundred Frenchmen went to a watery grave,
A hundred shell-shocked survivors were all they’d save.
Ten more French ships were captured or sunk in the fight
As British cannons spit fire through the long night.
The sun rose o’er a scene of carnage the next day.
Mangled bodies of dead sailors littered the bay.
Rescue efforts by the British were soon started.
They saved those that they could and then they departed.
Author notes
Ok. I screwed this up. I read the directions as ....... anything pertaining to Egypt and chose the Battle of Abu Qir Bay (Battle of the Nile) between England and France on August 1-2, 1798. As I went to post I saw the word ancient. I like the poem and am entering though I dont figure on winning or even placing (due to the fact that I cannot read directions).
Picture credit: http://endtimepilgrim.org/boystood3.jpg
In a list
A contest entry
- The Mysteries of Egypt by Bosiarbooger by Bosiarbooger.
2250 points, ended January 27, 15 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Wow
A wonderfully written war ballad, ancient or not worthy of any contest. Very well done best of luck to you -
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Thank you very much for reading and commenting. I am glad you enjoyed it. I am sorry that I failed to thoroughly read the contest rules. I was stretching it to even tp truly call it Egyptian.
Mike
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Who the hell cares about winning? It's simply a cracking ballad!
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Thanks for reading and commenting. I did not notice my error until I had completed the poem. So, I just figured, what the hell, I like it. Boog can DQ me if he wants, I certainly stretched his rules if i did not break them.
Mike -
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Well just how ancient is ancient? I have an idea - why not incorporate an extra stanza, referring to a naval "ensign" - the ancient spelling of which was.... "ancient"!
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Very good, historic without being boring
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Thank you very much. I like writing historic poems, but it is a bit of a challenge to make history rhyme and be interesting.
Mike
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erm...... I never heard of a battle like this but I must say my boyfriend is the history buff not I. I liked your poem though very educational not boring at all. Infact I found this to be very entertaining. I am very glad I happened upon this
Have a great day and keep up the good work. -
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I am glad you enjoyed the poem. Thank you very much for reading and commenting. Many people who dislike history are victims of boring history teachers. When it is well written, it is much better than most fiction.
Mike
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I love that this is a detailed peice of accurate work and also that it rhymes so fluidly. Its perfect. The reader does not get bored, 1. because you tell it well, and 2. because even though its a historical account (which i never personally find boring but others might XD) theres nothing narrational or bland about it. You might have to write down all history this way, save me buying great big text books.
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I am glad you liked the poem. It is always hard to tell an interesting and historically accurate poem in rhyme. I am passionate about history. I cannot understand being bored by it.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Mike
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love it anyway
it is Egypty (made up word) enjoyed it very much
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Yeah, but it is not ancient egypty. I still wanted to post it. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Mike
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