Best Doubloon Poems
Treasure from the sea
Golden doubloon
Sixteenth Century artifact
By ancestors hewn
Earth’s history lays buried
Beneath five oceans
As undersea tremors
Create violent commotions
Freeing from Spanish galleons
Precious metals, gemstones
To greet early beachcombers
History on loan
Memories of bygone ages
Scattered on the sand
Finally kissed by sun again
While in a searcher’s hand
I pursue this morning trek
With Atlantis on my mind
Seeking proof at last
In treasures I might find
When ancient civilizations
Seem to disappear
Comb the beach, you might find
The evidence is here
For like a phoenix rising
New finds appear each day
And I’ll not stop searching
Till doubts I can allay
We sat upon the rocks, my love and I
Atop Mount Cadillac, there by the sea
And as a doubloon sun slid down the sky
I asked her, with my ring, to marry me
Now it was not to her, complete surprise
For we had often talked of marriage, soon
Yet 'tween the Tanzanite to match her eyes
A limpid diamond now shone with the moon
And while I'd worked so hard to fill her needs
To tend our bloom of love and help it grow
That ring so cut my heart, (and still it bleeds)
For back it came with one sharp edge of "no"
Then, as I rose in soundless rage to leave ...
I gave our love and that damned ring ... a heave.
Ten syllables/line, counted at HowManySyllables.com
How did a decent lady like me end up here, anyway?
The only girl aboard a ship of unsavory men.
The last thing I remember was sipping a glass of wine in a tavern.
Then, when I awoke, I was at sea,
on a vessel, and surrounded by pirates.
Shanghai'd, I think they call it.
For what purpose, I do not even want to think about.
However, I found that out rather quickly.
Then, I learned something else.
A sharp cutlass and a loaded pistol are a girl's best friend.
I am hardly the damsel in distress, for I can take care of myself.
There is one thing on board this ship
that I do not mind thinking about.
The captain, or so he calls himself.
My gaze often finds him, though his never finds me.
Only when he is giving me orders.
I have been entrusted with the helm of this vessel.
While he stares off into the waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Perhaps, planning our next heading.
The seas are strangely calm at the end of this day.
The sun is half way sunken below the horizon,
making the usual aqua-blue waters glow a golden-orange.
I stare into the dark eyes of my pirate captain,
they reflect the sunset, and shine like the gold of a doubloon.
His eyes are a lost treasure that I hope will find me.
I would trade all of the hidden treasures in the seven seas,
just for one look of those eyes.
Rubies, rare pearls, sapphires,
even gold cannot entice me more.
I leave the ship's wheel to make my way
down the wooden steps to the empty deck.
And, I ask him if he has our next route mapped out.
The captain leans against the ship's rails,
looking down as if contemplating.
He slowly turns his head,
and looks up at me with those enchanting eyes.
Then, he gives me that mischievous half-smile....
A setting sun inks purple mountain peaks,
painting frescoes on slopes of sullied snow.
And smearing scarlet in blotches and streaks,
its art surpasses Michelangelo.
Shadows scurry to merge with silhouettes,
as acrobatic bats hunt moths in flight.
And when Night gets as quiet as it gets,
ebony extinguishes Dusk's last light.
Crimson and cerise color carmine skies,
as Sol's chariot gilds the edge of Night.
And trillions of stars materialize,
twinkling overhead like jewels of light.
And in the heavens hangs a beaming moon,
light pooling around it, like liquid gold.
For glowing as bright as a gold doubloon,
Luna's face is a wonder to behold.
As twilight's shifting shadows slowly merge,
Dusk extinguishes all lingering light.
And a sky full of twinkling stars crowns Night,
as the blackness of space and time converge.
Indigo skies morph into ebony
while a scarlet sun bleeds on snow-capped rocks.
And though time's tethered to impatient clocks,
it stops; to behold Earth's transcendency.
A curtain of ghostly fog starts to form,
shrouding reality in misty white.
And darkness descends, as eagles take flight,
soaring over the land; Night will transform.
Silence rebuffs the creatures of the dark,
scurrying from the light of a full moon.
And Luna rises like a gold doubloon
above a gnarled old oak; gilding its bark.
You look at a sky full of stars
akin to trillions of diamonds.
And watch a gold doubloon moon climb
high amidst a starlit background.
Not a sound, just you, and your thoughts;
as worldly distractions vanish.
And scrutinizing God's handiwork:
your soul finds its humanity.
A sizzling shooting star trails light,
unzipping a curtain of sparks.
And a bat starts scanning for moths,
flapping skin-soft wings at nightfall.
Shifting shadows slowly conjoin,
crushing charcoal gray into black.
And tattooing twilight phantoms:
Dusk, inks day, in colors of Night.
Hold me in your heart,
when the morning starts to glow,
when the soft winds begin to flow,
between you and me, my sweet beau,
to and fro, and fro, like an echo.
Hold me tight once again,
when our stars drift far apart;
breaking what binds us heart-to-heart,
when we must go far away and depart,
to make amends, back with a fresh start.
Your laugh is like a doubloon,
a gift of gold, a little tune,
turning a drab, rainy afternoon,
into a swooning croon, a balloon,
replaying our much loved honeymoon.
So hold me in your heart,
where the sweetest dreams belong;
where our every word becomes a song;
so true, so deeply, ever so strong,
that nothing can ever ever go wrong.
Hold me like a gleaming star
showing everyone who we are—
true blue lovers, near and far,
softly strumming the one guitar,
singing karaoke, like a mega-star.
As Dusk absorbs a charcoal hue,
ebony inks the heart of Night.
And an owl bids daylight adieu,
silhouetted, against last light.
We welcome the glow of the moon
on the wings of a turtledove.
And glinting like a gold doubloon,
Luna smiles down upon our love.
Our spirits float above the Earth,
untethered from their mortal perch.
And we realize love's true worth;
lies in the finding, not the search.
We gaze up at a blushing Mars
as our bodies and souls entwine.
And a sky filled with twinkling stars
forms a crown: for my Valentine.
14 July 2010
The Sea Rover
Moving sideways or careening
All hands hoay and avast ye
Sea dogs and landlubbers go on pillaging
Jolly Roger is flapping guarded by cannon and artillery
Pistol, daggers, and doubloon among things inside the sea-chest
Walk the plank if they caught you as offenders
Or heave to an island and marooning them as helpless
Yo ho ho! and a bottle of rum as a way of pirate’s laughter
As the ship rolled about on high seas
Plenty of cackle fruit to serve a salmagundi
A drink of grog or bumboo wobbled their sea legs
In tossing ship, proves them as scallywags
Blow me down! alerted by a cannon blast
The enemies have climbed on their Jacob's ladder
Black spot meet their way on to Tortuga’s vast
All hearty and brave soldiers have fallen to Davy Jone’s locker
I'm a briny whore
wit' reekin' drawers
me honor ter make yer acquenchance
th' skipper's maid
me port's decayed
one doubloon, yer seafarin' urchin?
Yer scurvy rat
a-crawl wit' gnat
orf seadog scourged wit' rabid
yer cannon's immense
'tis cocked 'n tense
yer cutlass be yearnin' me scabbard
Yer stench o' sewer
me bits'll chew yer
bumps 'n boils 'n rottin' flesh
yer britches singe
yer helm unhinge
ter boot yer hornpipe thump 'n thresh
2013-11-20
TENERIFE
Two lovers by the ragged strand once trod
the sooty sand; slender maid with raven
hair, fisher boy of bronze; the dazzling sun
a gold doubloon, the moon a silver coin.
From rocks, ink-black as witches' cats, they saw
the teeming sea; for Paraiso Beach was
cast for them by Teide's fiery blast, 'neath
Milky Way in wind-blown spray where whale and
dolphin play... Faceless fools from far-off lands
soon found their paradise. "Commercialise
then urbanize, the mountains are for sale.
Bulldoze, landfill, then jerry-build; sewage
on the surf. Roll out roads for traffic roar;
monoxide in the breeze. Machinery tear
at prickly pear and green banana trees.
Throw up bars and apartment blocks; bedim
the stars with flashing lights; fill the nights with
keyboard beat and dancing feet to drown the
ocean's anguished cries ..." Her sculpture scorned, her
flanks defiled, the lady Teide broods - with
hissing sulphur in her breath, inferno
for a heart. Such feelings pent, her rage must
vent to blast the curse and re-create a
silent land, where lizards laze and prey birds
ride the balmy breeze, while a ghostly girl
and fisher lad go gathering wild herbs.
cc CG
Teide = a volcano in Tenerife - rhymes with lady
The Halloween Party was in full swing
Witches, wizards and an alien thing
with tentacles and one huge eye
Flourishing a laser gun shouting "Die".
Alison and her friends Ada and Jo
Were all dressed as feline kittens "meow"
Carl and Simon had laced the fruit punch bowl
As the evening drew on it took it's tole.
Drunkenly a bet was stupidly placed
Who of them would last and not be outpaced
A nightly vigil at Haunted Creek
Where rode a phantom horseman, there to seek.
Everyone there all knew the awful tale
Making in unison a quick inhale
It was long ago in 1702
A mounted stallion there cast a shoe
The rider's name was Squire Abraham Knight
Was set upon and put up a good fight
He was then butchered for a gold doubloon
Was then thrown in the creek and found at noon
Unexplained sightings, that then disappear
have been recorded, it is very unclear
Warnings come from parents to their own child
No-one goes there, it is left to grow wild
With youthful bravado they all met there
Torches flashed around, as the trees stood bare
Alison and her friends huddled together
Shivering in the inclement weather
Bart and his brother camped down for the night
on a hillock, keeping the creek in sight
Joining them was the terror gang of four
Troublemakers, who all acted hardcore.
Two hours later it started to snow
Huge flakes falling and wind began to blow
"I've had enough of this" said Alison
"I'm all for going home. I'm all done!"
Eagerly agreeing, walked back in step
Suddenly Jo tripped up and in pain wept
"Can't go further, my ankle is wrecked"
Leaning on shoulders, onwards they all trekked.
"No, I can't, please, you must stop", poor Jo wailed
"It's agony! she gasped and then inhaled.
"Come on Jo, we can stop at Adam's place".
"We will make it there at a slower pace.
Adam's place was an old abandoned farm
"No, not there!" said Ada-May in alarm
"Afraid of ghosts and ghouls?" mocked Alison
"More like rats and spiders and not much fun!".
Giggling they arrived at old Adam's place
The moonlight showing fear on each girl's face
"We have to go in there, we have no choice"
Jo jumped. "Was that whinnying of a horse?"
On that retort they threw open the door
Stepping inside, they all dropped through the floor
Not one of them survived their dreadful doom
Trapped, without rescue, in the dark, dark room.............
Sunlit rays gild a filigree Moon;
while intensifying Luna's glow.
And She shimmers, like a gold doubloon;
in a creek, where rippled waters flow.
She adopts a halo over time:
highlighting Her celestial ascent.
And like a Goddess, She starts Her climb;
a starlet in this gala event.
An ebony curtain pierced by stars
ushers in the beauty of the Night.
And a red blush tints the planet Mars;
as Venus reveals Her virgin light.
Birds surrender the night skies to bats
playing hide and seek with skittish moths.
And along with silken welcome mats,
spiders spin intricate tablecloths.
Darkness swallows the remnants of Day,
imposing shadows upon the Night.
And color silently fades away;
amidst the last vestiges of light.
Oh Moon, come slumber on my chest of sand dune
Let your moonlight drizzles engulf this land in June
Sing! So the sandstorm dances with your flowing tune
Oh Lunar beam! Your touch wreaks fame and fortune
Cross the skies and stay with me, for it makes me immune
O Moon! Only if you agree for an honeymoon
I would be...
Draped in the enthralling Blue Bells in the noon !
Sinking in the sparkling sea of heart-gold doubloon !
Invincible and untouchable even for the worst simoon !
Spellbound by your Love in the form of a monsoon !
Glided with streams linking from the Glenrock Lagoon !
Clothed with eat-able sand sweeter than macaroon !
Oh, lunate Moon! Unveil your beauty !
Don't leave me in anxiety !
Quench my thirst with your creativity !
Accept me and I'll serve you with my loyalty
The concert had been perfect ...
Chaka and Al Jarreau on the grass at Foxwoods
A dry and warm July evening
Sleepy full moon peeking up over the horizon
(As if checking to make sure the jealous sun had set)
Then rising ever-so-cautiously
Like a gold doubloon tossed in slow-motion
We drove to Prospect Park and climbed the hill with a blanket
Laying it out when we reached the top
Then sitting down to watch the lights of Boston
There was a tangible magic in the air
One of those nights when something grand speaks to your deepest being
Telling you that for this rare and precious moment
(A moment that could stretch to forever)
All was right in the Universe, and nothing would or could go wrong
Thirty years ago, yet I remember every detail
The way her fingers filled the spaces in mine as we ran up the hill
The scent of her Je Reviens perfume
Mixing with the aroma of newly-mown grass
The exquisite silkiness of her tan Taiwanese skin
Her raven hair hanging around her face like a dark halo
Spicy, luscious chili pepper lips tugging mine
Quiet but intense little sighs of pleasure and encouragement
And her eyes ... oh her eyes, like cool-and-glassy mountain pools at night
The distant lights of the city shimmering softly within
Swimming in the dreamy depths of her gaze
Like the fireflies that swam in the air around us
Telling me all I needed to know, all the things her body spoke to me
The soul-deep-and-sexy things that my body answered ...
Sweet ... vulnerable ... delirious.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Completely Your Choice (33) Any Theme, Any Form" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Verses Of Metaphors II" Poetry Contest, Laura Loo, Judge & Sponsor.