Hell Cats-Fire and Earth (Try It!)

Unsung legends of the high seas!

Together they erupted

like an inexorable volcano,

they broke gender boundaries

and stunned 18th century folk.

 

Once expunged from the history books

for fear of causing a gay epidemic,

statues of Anne Bonny and Mary Read

now unveiled at Execution Dock.

 

More famous in their time

than, Henry Morgan,

Captain' Kidd,

Calico Jack Rackham,

Bartholomew Roberts

and the fearsome Blackbeard,

as they made waves

across the Caribbean;

a trail of looted treasure,

outfoxed law enforcement,

and treacherous ex-lovers in their wake.

 

As quick to draw their cutlasses

as they were to fall in love,

trailblazers in a male-dominated society

who plotted their own courses.

 

Lovers, moving between living as men

and living as women,

in order to survive,

to dodge poverty, propriety and disgrace,

they determinedly

followed their hearts,

sought their own destiny,

followed their desire to love each other,

when society demanded

nothing less than marriage

between a man and a woman. 

25/11/20

Author's Note

Reviews

[Arundass TP]

Beautiful lines. Excellent story throu poetry. A different approach. Good work 👍

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks ATP

[Robert Haigh]

A fascinating and well told tale... all the more so for being a true one! How times (and laws) change!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Robert.

[Einstein Noodle]

great read for me sir ... of course .. i love the high seas and tales of Pirates ... i'm inspired to read more of their history now .. always drawn to swashbuckling brigands ... brave and true to heart .. and what a connection to my all time favorite town of New Orleans ... really like this poem/history/story telling style .. such a smooth flow and many images way back to me own boyhood flash as i read .. thanks for sharing .. Ahoy matey! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh! ;)
E.

[Kari Rakitan]

I love the way your poems tell stories. It also reminds me of this song:
https://youtu.be/bFTXcoi1aTM

Who are the real thieves, the pirates, or the kings?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Love that kids song. Ah the age old question do the elite force the ordinary folk into survival mode? Many thanks Kari!

[barleygirl]

Even tho this has distinct lesbian undertones, I love that it doesn't have to be interpreted this way. Pioneer women were so tough as to conjure the proverbial "dyke" persona and also sick of being hit on in campy frontier settlements with many men & few women, plus women in general weren't allowed to travel alone so they dressed/disguised as men to eke out a modicum of freedom while swerving the prevailing lecherous gender. I'm not into geneology, but I've been told I come from a long line of these types of women, so it's no wonder I turned out as I did! Love your tribute to strong women in general & lesbians in particular (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[John Alexander McFadyen]

But Margie there is no need to feel inferior as this is about the real machining of bodies, people.

[barleygirl]

I don't feel inferior.

[Coyote Poetry]

Artwork was cool and the story in the poem, cooler. I liked this poem. You know, myth and tale is my favorite. Thank you John for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Coyote John. This is a true story.

[Coyote Poetry]

A interesting true story John. The wonders of this world? You are welcome.