Maritime Madness

A pirate poem

Up and forward, down and back,

Eyes to the sky as we roll to the stern

Left and right as the waves crash;

Starboard and port.

Six sails on me pirate ship

Pushes us forth, over this abyss.

We chant thru this storm.

"We are pirates!"

.

Avast ye, batten down the hatches.

"Aye aye, Captain," says Ossian.

Pearls are me first mate's booty.

Bagged on his head, neath his cocked hat.

A buccaneer not into gold is the last.

But more gold for me, so not a threat.

Ahoy, me hearties, dead men tell no tales

Run a rig on this storm. Sail, ho!

Let us scuttle and plunder its gold.

.

Blow me down. Rain falls like glass,

Lightning cracks the night sky, so fast.

Thunder strikes, our eyes lift to the sky.

Swab buccaneers, so not to scuttle.

Heave ho, or feed the fish, me bucko.

.

Spyglass view of a pirate ship, eyes the lookout

(Thru lines of rain; up and down with the waves)

Red sails with a skull above swords x-shaped

Above an orange football made of pigskin.

"Buccaneers! Captian, avast ye. Clipper.

Cannons stronger than a clap of thunder."

Chase, bring a spring upon'er, hearties.

First mate,  man the cannons,

Prepare to fire on me command.

"Aye, aye Captian."

.

Fire in the hole! Fire and smoke.

In the wind thru the waves.

Beside the lightning,

Neath the thunder's quakes.

Load another cannon, first mate.

Load another cannon,

As many as it will take.

Brace for impact! These Buccaneers

Know how to fight back.

Hit them again. Do it for the gold!

Do it for the rum! Do it for the loot, bucko,

We shall plunder from them.

Hit them again. Hit them again.

Heave to! Now move on in.

.

Blood red shadows behind the sails.

Take your cutglass and prepare for battle.

Handle the waves, dance me hearties.

I grabbed me sword, the captain is mine.

His first mate belongs to Pearl Hat Ossian.

All other is your fight. Loot the gold,

Hold it up to the sun when it rises make it shine.

As if King Tut was a pirate, so I will die.

Jan 20, 21 2021

Author's Note

What made reading this worthwhile for you???????

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

Part of my family comes from Beaufort, NC, home for a time to Captain Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard the Pirate. I was thinking of him as I read this. He met his bloody end at Ocracoke Island in 1718. The fight was every bit as exciting as the one described here, but his nemesis was the Royal Navy. The Buccaneers from Tampa Bay had not quite made it to the scene in those days.

[Betty Hermelee]

I felt like I was on the ship! Waiting for the gold, then strike! A true adventure with pirates...anything for the gold! I really liked the imagery, the chosen words and the inviting content...very well done my friend.
Best, Betty

[Poetic Beauty]

This an amazingly descriptive tale of pirates out pillaging and plundering other ships out on the open seas. Taking the booty and moving on to other victims with red sails behind them.

[SheIsMe]

I got major Shel Silverstein vibes reading this and I LOVE it. Wonderful write. I especially liked the line "Heave ho, or feed the fish, me bucko."
Well done!!

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

“Blow me down. Rain falls like glass,
Lightning cracks the night sky, so fast.
Thunder strikes, our eyes lift to the sky.
Swab buccaneers, so not to scuttle.
Heave ho, or feed the fish, me bucko.“
‘It’s a pirate’s life for me’ well- penned and free as the wild seas... Great sea shanty Cyprian, with all the rousing thrills and wonderful imagery as accompaniment. Blood thirsty but so appealing. You write with wonderful power, lilt, cadence, musicality and authentic language. Loved this!

[Patricia]

This was so much fun to read!!!! I really loved the ride and seriously I have always wanted to sail on those old buccaneer ships, now that’s sailing! Thanks for the trip

[emmajoy]

Enjoyed this throughout. sea shanty story put to free verse and in the use of increasingly shortened sentences ~ distinct gasps. you contrive tension, the increase of activity...clever, very!

' Load another cannon, ~ As many as it will take. ~ Brace for impact! These Buccaneers ~ Know how to fight back.
Hit them again. Do it for the gold! ~ Do it for the rum! Do it for the loot, bucko, ~ We shall plunder from them.
Hit them again. Hit them again. ~ Heave to! Now move on in. '

Seem to be even shorter phrases in the final stanza: building into a glorious battle, sights set. Is victory on the horizon? Like the specific naval terms of long ago, they really add to the atmosphere of the tale within the poem.

Posted 12 Minutes Ago

[emmajoy]

Enjoyed this throughout. sea shanty story put to free verse and in the use of increasingly shortened sentences ~ distinct gasps. you contrive tension, the increase of activity...clever, very!

' Load another cannon, ~ As many as it will take. ~ Brace for impact! These Buccaneers ~ Know how to fight back.
Hit them again. Do it for the gold! ~ Do it for the rum! Do it for the loot, bucko, ~ We shall plunder from them.
Hit them again. Hit them again. ~ Heave to! Now move on in. '

Seem to be even shorter phrases in the final stanza: building into a glorious battle, sights set. Is victory on the horizon? Like the specific naval terms of long ago, they really add to the atmosphere of the tale within the poem.

[Einstein Noodle]

well ... first off .. i love Pirates and tales of the Sea .. next .. your simile, calling the ocean the abyss is top notch, creative and unique to me. An abyss brings images of deep ravines and high cliffs ... without the water ..but that is exactly what the oceans are ..aren't they?! i think the tension and tempo build as this is read .. through language and imaging .. really grateful for the "Pirate" talk .. nice read .. also felt the crashing and heaving of the ship ..
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Well, you took me along with you riding the storm and preparing for battle. Felt a bit sea sick at first, but then found my sea legs and kept a low profile. Pirates are ruthless and fearless, and they love their treasure. Such an atmospheric and descriptive piece of writing, conveyed well and very much enjoyed. Well done Cyprian.

Chris