SECRETS OF 'THE TREASURE'

[Maureen K Clifford]

SECRETS OF ' THE TREASURE’


The top gallants filled, and she leaped to the chase
the Boat Master let her have her head.
'twas a beautiful day, and the fine ocean spray
caught the suns beams, turned drops ruby red.
A following sea, surged and foamed at her sides
and the old timbers creak was ignored,
a rogue wave, one in seven, spurred her on to heaven
tight embraced by waves she slipped and yawed.

Her barnacled hull had not seen careening.
Too many long months far from shore.
Her timbers were wormy, her sails patched and yellow
yet onwards she sailed evermore.
No fine Spanish Galleon, her crew were rapscallions.
No flag from olde England she flew.
But her reputation was known through the nation
for the fierceness of Captain and crew.

But she's never been seen, save in some ones dark dream
and it's not known what ocean she sails.
Is she myth or a legend? From Portsmouth to Lands End
Her names oft’ recalled in tall tales.
'The Treasure' was sailed by a crew of armed men,
plus the odd female pirate or two .
One October night when Jack was forced to fight,
he seemed to be short of his crew.

Below decks men hid with seems sense circumspect.
Two girls fought in the thick of the fray.
Captain Calico Jack with two ‘men’ at his back
was still captured and carried away.
Mary Read and Anne Bonny proved good in a stoush
beside Jack at St Jago de la Vega
On November sixteen Captain Jacks worst dream
came true. He was hanged in Jamaica.

The two girls were pregnant but still to jail went.
Not for them the death by the noose.
Mary Read caught the fever and she died in prison,
and bribery saw Anne set loose.
Big money was paid to free this Irish Maid.
Her Father obtained her release.
She was free to leave, to her family cleave
if pirating she promised to cease.

She returned to Charles Town, married and settled down.
Had eight kids and lived to be old.
Eighty plus years of age. Death wrote 'end' on her page.
though stories of her life are still told.
They laid her to rest at Yorke County Virginia.
Her pirating days they were done.
Don't know what it said on her granite tombstone
but perhaps it says “God I had fun”


'The Treasure' was sailed by a crew of armed males,
plus the odd female pirate or two .
But who would believe or even conceive
of the daring deeds these girls would do.
The top gallants filled and she leaped to the chase.
The boat master let her have her head.
For here endeth a tale of plunder and Pirating.
Pirates Jack, Anne and Bonny are dead.


Maureen Clifford ©



Footnote - Calico Jack at a Glance

John Rackham (b. December 21, 1682 in London - died November 17, 1720 in Jamaica), also known as Calico Jack Rackham or Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain during the early 18th century. His nickname was derived from the colourful calico clothes he wore. John Rackham is remembered for employing two of the most notorious female pirates of his time - Anne Bonny and Mary Read - in his crew. John Rackham and most of his crew were executed in Jamaica.

[manfredvijars]

A rollicking yarn Mauzie ...

Just a couple of things that stuck out for me ...
and the old timbers creak was ignored,
##(and her creaking old timbers ignored)

Her barnacled hull had not seen careening.
##(Her barnacled hull was soon sent careening)

needs re-work ...
##Mary Read caught the fever and she died in prison,
look closer at 'fever' and 'prison'

Maybe it was "Death" who ended her page??
Eighty plus years of age. Life then ended her page.



Well done ...

[Neville Briggs]

See Maureen, it's not just me.

[Heather]

I think Neville is getting a complex!

[Bob Pacey]

Oh I think you are right there Heather.

NEVILLE is very complex !!!!


Sorry Mausie did not hold my interest till the end.

That's just me I reckon. Get bored with serious poems very easily.

Oh Footys on as well Zoom Zoom.


Bob

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thanks all for comments...sorry I'm boring Bobbo never try to compete with the Footy.

Thanks Mannie - her barnacled hull wasn't sent careening but it needed careening - I am sure you know that it means anti fouling due to a build up of weed and barnacles and in those days sea worms that slowed the boats speed down...That was why keelhauling was so effective because the bottoms of the hull were so rough due to the build up of foreign bodies that they tore the poor buggers skin to shreds as they were being dragged under the hull.

I'll take the other two on board though.....thinking about them.

Don't you go getting all funny on me Neville - I always value your input and Marty is being a diplomat with his terminology but it just doesn't have the same ring as Pirate and I love Jack Sparrow whose character incidentally was based on Calico Jack.

[Bob Pacey]

Pretty good likeness Marty. Who did you get to paint the portrait ?

Bob

[Maureen K Clifford]

an oldie but Heather was bemoaning the lack of poems about the sea

[Neville Briggs]

Goodo Maureen.