Tom Cunningham Poet Sonnet

Notes About The Poem

 

 

 

 

Bonaparte's plans to invade England were thwarted after the battle of Trafalgar in October 1805.

Although outnumbered the British Royal Navy defeated a combined force of Spanish and French ships.

At the battles end Nelson was fatally shot by a French sniper but knew of the victory before his death.

His flagship H.M.S. Victory is now a museum in Portsmouth and a few years ago I stood on its deck.

Whilst in Gibraltar this year our guide pointed out to sea where the battle took place, just off Cape Trafalgar on Spain's south coast

 

 

 

 

Trafalgar

Nelson paced the deck of the Victory
In waters off the coast of Gibraltar
Signalled to his fleet to do their duty
Before the battle known as Trafalgar.
                           ~
Off the Spanish coast man o' wars engaged
In battle paid for in lives at great cost   
Loud booms of cannon as the fighting raged
At the battles end three thousand lives lost.
                            ~
England outnumbered had the lesser fleet
Twenty seven ships against thirty three
Admiral Villeneuve suffererd defeat
Against a brave and determined navy.
                            ~
A French sniper shot Nelson fatally
On his death bed was told of victory.

                            ~


3rd April 2019
Poetry Marathon Final Placement
Sponsor Mark Toney.


Revised 16th March 2019.

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Andrea Dietrich April 21, 2019 at 3:54 PM Congrats on your marathon win, Tom and looks like I never congratulated you the first time for this one, GREAT win with third place in the stage of the marathon in which you entered this one! Tom Cunningham April 22, 2019 at 3:32 AM Thank you very much Andrea, I must say I surprised myself with this one, I stood on Nelsons victory now a museum a few years back and also saw where that historic battle took place. Hope you are enjoying Easter. Tom.

Line Gauthier April 20, 2019 at 11:26 PM Congrats on your win, Tom. Well done. Tom Cunningham April 21, 2019 at 1:47 AM Thank you Line, it was a nice surprise to be on Marks list. Tom.

Mark Toney April 20, 2019 at 4:54 PM Tom, after 122 days, 27 contests, and 945 submitted poems, my 2019 Poetry Marathon Contest has finally come to its end. Congratulations on placing 20th overall in the marathon! There is no provision to denote this in the Standard Contest other than Honorable Mention. Your participation in my contests is much appreciated. ~Mark Tom Cunningham April 20, 2019 at 6:03 PM Thank you very much Mark, I'm very grateful for my placement, to be honest I was not expecting it. And big thanks to you for all the hard work you put into it. Hope you and yours have a happy Easter. Tom.

Timothy Mcguire March 21, 2019 at 8:40 PM Great win Tom! Really great poem. Tom Cunningham March 21, 2019 at 10:00 PM Thank you again Timothy, much appreciated. Tom.

P.S. Awtry March 21, 2019 at 7:41 PM What a wonderful historical write. Congratulations. :) Tom Cunningham March 21, 2019 at 9:57 PM Thank you very much P.S. Glad you liked it. Tom.

Mark Toney March 21, 2019 at 6:58 PM Tom, an excellent historical piece! Congratulations on your win on Mile 25 of my 2019 Poetry Marathon Contest. Only 2 contests to go before the final! ~Mark Tom Cunningham March 21, 2019 at 9:56 PM Thank you very much Mark, thanks for my placement and for also hosting the contest. Tom

Timothy Mcguire July 27, 2018 at 7:45 AM Great poem. I appreciate the history lesson before the poem. I have a few military pieces. Check them out if you can thanks: "Blue and the Gray" "Ghost ship" "Our Heroes" Tom Cunningham July 27, 2018 at 9:18 AM Thanks Timothy, I certainly will. Tom

Gershon Wolf July 2, 2018 at 12:15 PM I sure do enjoy your historical writes, Tom. They constitute great refresher courses for me, as the last time I learned about this was probably, oh, let's just say a few umpteen years ago...Thanks for posting this!! Best wishes, Gershon Tom Cunningham July 2, 2018 at 12:21 PM Thanks very much Gershon, I do have to research a little as its been quite a while since I too was in the classroom lol. Greetings from.Turkey. Tom

Maria Williams July 2, 2018 at 2:16 AM A little bit of history Tom in this wonderful Sonnet of yours. Love poems like this, an excellent write....Maria hugs Tom Cunningham July 11, 2018 at 5:52 PM Thank you Maria Williams July 2, 2018 at 3:33 AM And what an awesome Sonnet as well....Maria hugs Tom Cunningham July 2, 2018 at 2:29 AM Thank you Maria, the Victory is now a museum in Portsmouth historic dock and to actually stand on its deck was awesome, never realising that I'd one day write a sonnet about it. Tom

Caren Krutsinger July 1, 2018 at 7:28 AM I read this and I wonder, was Tom a history teacher or is this his passion? Well written. Tom Cunningham July 1, 2018 at 7:47 AM Thanks Caren, never a teacher but do have a great love for historical events, haven't been on much, still on holiday, greetings from Turkey, sending sunshine your way. Tom

Demetrios Trifiatis June 28, 2018 at 7:51 AM Battles like this shape history for centuries to come! Glorious Sonnet my friend, Tom! Tom Cunningham June 28, 2018 at 8:46 AM Thank you very much Demetrios, how right you are, if he had lost Spanish or French would be my mother tongue. Tom

Viv Wigley June 27, 2018 at 1:17 AM One of our finest hours, well recorded here, Tom, a fine piece. regards, Viv Tom Cunningham June 27, 2018 at 9:52 AM Thank you Viv, good job there wasn't cuts to military spending then like there is today . Tom

Cheryl Hoffman June 26, 2018 at 10:23 PM An interesting piece of British History Tom; thanks for sharing this!~Che :) Tom Cunningham June 26, 2018 at 11:47 PM Thank you Cheryl, happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Lyric Man June 26, 2018 at 9:26 PM Tom, great sonnet my friend. I learn some things reading this! Tom Cunningham June 26, 2018 at 11:46 PM Thanks Dave, I like doing historical verse. Tom

Andrea Dietrich June 26, 2018 at 6:29 PM GREAT ending, to know that HE knew he had had the victory. That is awesome! Tom Cunningham June 26, 2018 at 8:13 PM Thank you Andrea, also Napoleon kept a bust of Nelson he admired him that much. Tom

Nette Onclaud June 26, 2018 at 3:03 PM your passion for meaningful events makes this work a most pleasant read, tom...greaat notes!..huggs Tom Cunningham June 26, 2018 at 8:05 PM Thank you Nette, happy that you enjoyed it. Tom.

Alexis Y. June 26, 2018 at 9:56 AM Hi Tom, After viewing this well written Sonett I felt like was in a classroom. And you were the instructor and you gave a good history lesson on the subject matter. Excellent job:-) Alexis Tom Cunningham June 26, 2018 at 11:10 AM Thank you very.much Alexis, happy you enjoyed it. Tom