I Remember…

Ahhh… the things that fired the imagination growing up summers at the OBX…

photography by D. Denise Dianaty

I remember…

Sunsets on the beach 

where walked Edward Teach

Watching th' far horizon

Rolling seas t’keep your eyes on

Where Spotswood’s Maynard dread

took Black Beard’s pirate head.

I remember…

Dancing in the surf 'pon th' shore 

Where rumored Stede Bonnet trod of yore

Fancied him the Gentleman Pirate

When fell to Black Beard’s cunning t'was irate, 

Reinvented for revenge t’was Cap'n Thomas

Brought low, hung high by Cap'n Will Rhet’s promise.

I remember…

Sailing past Money Isle of William Kidd

where buried his treasure some say he did

Digging in the sand for treasure

All in all for a day’s leisure

Cap’n Kidd ran afoul his crew’s greed

t’was hanged high by politic’s creed

I remember…

Parties into the night t'would roll on

Where Charles Vane decried the king’s pardon, 

Threw in his lot with Teach,

Himself partied ‘pon the beach

Finally felled when t'hurricane beached him, 

Laid prey to rescued recognition’s whim

I remember…

The rocking, rolling fishing boat

In Ocracoke Inlet,Outer Banks moat.

John Rackham, th' peacock Calico Jack romanced

Anne Bonney ‘neath Jolly Roger’s laughin’ skull danced

Till cowardly hidden below, left love to fight

Then Barnet carried to his Jamaican last night

by D. Denise Dianaty

© 22 October 2014

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

"Digging in the sand for treasure
All in all for a day’s leisure"

The history, the beautiful beaches and the stories of pirates along with all those memorable activities are cherished and energizing to the soul when we remember those great childhood memories. Keep them alive in the next generation. Excellent MomZilla...:)................

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. And, I'm trying. OBX is already my son's favorite beach (he's been to VA Beach, Carolina Beach, Wilmington, and OBX. Have you ever been to the OBX?

[Sami Khalil]

Never. I do hope so one day. I do like North and South Carolina and their beaches and islands along with the history. You are welcome...:)....................

[MomzillaNC]

Well, I encourage you to visit the OBX first. It's disappearing. The chain may be all but gone by the time my son is my age.

[Sami Khalil]

Ok. Thanks...:).......

[MomzillaNC]

:) :D

[Sami Khalil]

:)..............

[Robert Trakofler]

I love pirates (not just because I'm from Pittsburgh) I always wanted a peg leg when I was a kid:) you captured some fond memories here in your share of the golden doubloon loot matey:) have to go haul some keels now and clean off the barnacles

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. It helps that the NC coast was a long time pirate haven. 😎

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Now those are the kind of memories that money could never buy. A beautifully romantic piece of writing, *sigh*

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. What's your favorite beach?

I need to get back to the OBX. Between my health and money issues, we just haven't been able to make the trip.

[Lyn Anderson]

I like the rhythm, flow, and the journey of this piece. Calls to mind the images you want, a lovely story told.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. It's all part of the history and experience of the OBX here in NC. Just part of why it's my favorite set of beaches.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

I love your almost clandestine movement when you write, I've become expectant of it now! History is an almost mould you fill in with story, well done, good read.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you for such fulsome praise.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Your welcome.

[MomzillaNC]

Have you ever been to the OBX?

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

No never I'm afraid but someday.

[MomzillaNC]

Best not put it off too long. I'm very much afraid it will be gone by the time my son is my age. Hatteras is disintegrating.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

I'll keep that in mind, truly.

[carol burgess romance]

Well written....you are very well read and it shows up in this piece of work

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. And, those are really pirates known to have prowled the shores of the OBX here in NC. I really do remember all those places and names from my childhoods playing along the NC coast, especially at the OBX.

That said, I am quite a bibliophile! And, I believe: writers write always; but good writers read great literature and then write always.

[Alejandra Marie]

You paint a picture with this poem. It has a nice flow and reads very well. I like the repetition of "I remember". Really adds to the poem. Thank you for sharing.

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome. Summers with Gran at the OBX were some of the very few bright spots in my childhood. And, I always found the stories of pirates and their fates completely enthralling.

[Samuel Dickens]

Good fun, reading this. The sights and histories you had available were so much more than mine, yet the eyes of youth find treasure where they are.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. All the pirates mentioned are connected to the OBX; which is the beach we made our way to most every summer (I spent my summers at my Gran's) for weeks at a time.

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

This is an amazingly picturesque piece of writing. I loved the use of abbreviated words.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. I thought it helped the meter and fit the theme better. I always loved the OBX. I still think it's the best stretches of beach on the Atlantic. The old lighthouses of so many variations and history. The Corolla Wild horses… I love watching them race along the shore, in the surf! There are still wild stretches of beach and inlets everywhere along the OBX. And, there's no better place in the world for flounder than the Pamlico Sound -- in NYC, folk are paying more than $100 a plate for something you can just cast your line into the waters of the sound and catch most any day. And… you can turn around and hand that catch to a chef (if you fish off one of the restaurant/fishing docks/boardwalks) to prepare to perfection for you -- and still walk out having fed a family of four for LESS than $100 combined!

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

It sounds like an amazing place. I'm so jealous of you.

[MomzillaNC]

Maybe you'll holiday there sometime. If you make it to the States, it's THE beach to be, in my humble opinion. We lived in FL, VA, and RI. I've been to the beaches in all this states, plus in MD, SC, and GA. The OBX has always remained my favorite.

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

I can always hope to win our lottery.

[MomzillaNC]

:D "Hope springs eternal!"

[TL Boehm]

I want to be a pirate now. Loved this one - the flow of it, the theme - all wonderful.

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. Have you ever been to the OBX?