THE PIRATES

The albatross with mighty wings stretched

a mere ten feet across the velvet,

the blue heaven above the ship’s mast

laid in a breeze of high-reaching freedom.

Under her, the vessel laboured the sea

wood planks colliding the waves

fighting each roll in a desperate sigh

a constant war to keep her prow dry.

This heaving, relentless moan, a song

to its fierce sea-faring captain’s

ears, heart and coffins to fill,

headed the crew further afield.

To plunder, capture, seek fortunes

the pirates chanted, a unison of debauchery

as the gulls cried and the sun burned.

The masters of shady tricks preyed on all.

Gold they dreamed upon, riches to find,

to chance on a booty to loot;

their lives, unwilling partners, robbed

by barbarous souls, Blackbeards the lot.

By cunning or by sheer dark brutality

they took, Phoenicians of the oceans,

sank and murdered for shiny baubles,

raided and reigned as petty kings.

Often hung by the neck, gibbeted at the door

their ill-gotten goods hidden, lost,

for others to hunt with secret maps:

unforeseen dangers certain to capture them.

Long ago they trafficked the high sea

their tales of caches are whispered

still at night to romantic listening ears,

intrigues for the hijacked heart.

Now, I wish to be an Annie Bonny,

to roam free, to explore the darkness

as a woman-moor of Algeria.

a punitive amazon with a searching eye.

With my ship I’ll rob and no spoils share

laughing the blowing west wind,

my ship’ sails like clouds on my brow,

the danger, the pulse of our two bellies.

I’ll pursue this treasure of mine

a sworn promise made with bled wrists

to uncharted islands of the south:

or north to fight the jealous Viking.

I’ll resist any possessive hand,

spit my rage and bear arms readily

against men and women alike,

to gain and capture this bounty.

With the mighty albatross my companion,

my lonely friend a hopeless witness to

my doomed adventure on this blind shore,

I’ll look for you, my yearned inheritance.

Cherished and precious will you appear

if not whilst alive breathing lust,

in death to be seduced by the marked x

the position of a woman’s heart compass.