Noises in the Wind

Possible result of a mutiny ...

In 1832,

great storms raged o'er the sea.

Ill-fated was the crew,

of sailing ship Fly Free.

Sails torn and loosely flapping,

the mizzen mast now broken.

Against the ship waves slapping,

crew efforts were a token.

Overboard three went,

whilst others clung to ropes.

By many prayers were sent,

it gave these men fresh hopes.

'Lord help us!' they'd beseech,

though none believed in prayer.

'Please lead us to a beach,

we're beaten fair and square.'

'Land ahoy!' one called,

his left forearm was shattered.

Across the deck he sprawled,

survival all that mattered.

Rocks loomed up from the dark,

like a large black mountain.

Crew's prayers had missed their mark,

waves sprayed them like a fountain.

The vessel lifted high,

before disintegrating.

On these rocks all would die,

a massacre creating.

As wreckage washed ashore,

in the dead of night.

Also corpses, twenty four,

not one had won the fight.

Strange noises in the wind,

was it dead men crying?

Together they had sinned,

for forgiveness were souls trying?

Two days earlier they'd slain,

their captain, a fine man.

His ghostly laughter in the rain,

'Beg forgiveness if you can …'

So dear mutiny had cost,

more than one who'd lead.

Every soul aboard was lost,

simply through their greed …

* * *

Author's Note

Pure fiction ... but written with justice in mind.

Reviews

[emmajoy]

There's a romping metre through this poem, I can hear it played to the sound of an accordian or maybe fiddle in an old pub! You've laid out a great array of pictures for the reader to see and, it's fun, even though full of naughty goings-on. Thanks for sharing, Tom.