Mutiny

I dedicate this poem to Thomas Cunningham, who I admire for the tales he tells in poetry form. MUTINY I stands at the bow Proud to lead I get the first catch and splash Pretense while I breathe as if our lips our sealed together in this hallowed breeze The skill of his hands that masterfully guide the ship to the seas My intricate gown he sees only in his dreams as he feels the form underneath with his intrepid heart His feet firmly planted on deck, this captain of mine, steers the ship He must think of the coins the greed, the gold under the nose of his crew They often smirk and besmirch his name under tobacco’d breath and the stench of a whore’s perfume My hair is in disarray, I dread his fate under the hallowed moon The thunder roars from a shotgun into the air it soars In chains, he’s still in charge, his thoughts for me alarmed I’m pale and soaked, the downpour mad And so am I My knees bend My hands fold My head bound to see you through You stand at the brawny depths where the sirens roar, where tremendous teeth and hideous fins nearly frighten you I beg for your pardon, plead for your soul The head shark leans in with stain’d fangs mercilessly mocking, tearing up the captain with dead man tales The compass spins wildly as the traitor vehemently describes the fishbait before his eyes The treasured bride asks for a trade her life for his The sand sinks her knees “No, no, Josephine!” her sisters on her trail “Take ours, us two, save both of them!” The Lord wipes his tears and takes the dears into his arms, safe from the storm The tables turn as a sail slices the air rebuking the mutiny and the crew they stare as their daring is circled and bit... one arm, one leg, one ear at a time They’ve seen nothing like this Then their eyes open A light from the bow They rub their eyes but still they see the captain’s bride She smiles like the crystal sea She waves and disappears The crew drops their gear, unties the captain, begs mercy, unless they go down with the ship! 10/10/2020 Unmetered narrative