Best First Mate Poems
Its delicate wings no longer wet, it stretched well,
And flew up high holding onlookers in its spell.
Round and around it danced over the eerie pond
All covered with water lilies but not beyond.
Elation, euphoria, joy and disbelief,
Emotions fell as it landed on fragrant leaf.
Up again, its gossamer wings attaining strength,
As once again it fluttered across the pond's length.
Hungry it spied a tasty bug, gorged on its feed,
Then instinct urged it to find its first mate to breed.
The feat accomplished, it resumed its fullest flight
Knowing full well it needed rest before twilight.
Survival of the fittest it had never learned.
Bird ate it up, that natural death it had earned.
When the party’s over, the rising sun shines, with all eyes squinting
Make-up smeared on face’s, some have slimy snail skin
A woman waiting for a gent to light her cigarette, just hinting
Last thing she remembered the drink in her cup sink’n in
Alas a smoke from the one glaring all night, even his lighter is glinting
That night she lost her balance, her head, and her Gucci slipper
Though in costume, she didn’t feel like Cinderella anymore
Drunk-on champaign they went out to the marina for a dipper
Everyone dancing all night, felt great, with music galore
At the stroke of midnight, on a yacht, a first mate and his skipper
Swirling in gay abandon in her party dress, putting on a show
The first one to leave is deemed a killjoy in this circle fest
They pulled an all-nighter, ‘neith the shroud of the moon’s luscious glow
The first one to leave the event, was weary, in the state of unrest
The sun is setting, the party is ending, a new day calls, a caravan in tow
Thru maritime miles of minions in motion
We hedge our opinions while pledging devotion
To serving the Captain and sharing our smiles
Through barrels of onions and flea-bearing trials
But even the pirates who pose in a rumble
Are learning the merits of those who are humble
The path of our choosing where sinning is pleasure
Is better for losing than winning a treasure
I plunged overboard when I soared off a plank
At the point of a sword and a sore lady's prank
The captain's first mate made her daddy agree
That my fate was a date with the fish in the sea
I knew she was baiting my body at brunch
To catch me in waiting and serve me for lunch
All pirates are worthy to fish and to feast
But no one should make me a dish for a beast
From well on the brink to a splash in the sink
I fell in a flash for a female fink
I knew she was watching me fall in the tank
And laughing discreetly with Daddy to thank
I should have resisted the words that she said
But when she persisted they went to my head
I told her I loved her but so did my mate
Who never returned from his very first date
It seems bloody retching but fatefully true
When somebody fetching is fatal for you
You flee from the danger but fractured you find
That pretty young stranger has captured your mind
You think she is true but you never can tell,
Her saltwater stew is a bitter farewell,
A mob in her keep is the poorest of help,
Who force you to leap in a forest of kelp,
Though mad as an adder I drifted from reach
To bob like a bladder in search of a beach
The Great White beside me was my willing host
To have me for dinner and eat me the most
Then something resembling a storm with a tail
Came surging at me in the form of a whale
I lost my composure and when I passed out
She tossed me all over to sit on her spout
Upon this brave lady who skirted the water
I fled for my life from the ship captain's daughter
She brought me to land on the girth of her blubber
To flip me ashore like a lousy landlubber
From deep in the sea to a seat by a seal
The freedom I keep is a cheap kind of deal
The beach that I sleep on is sunny and hot
So happy to be where my honey is not...
Peg-Leg Pete the Pirate was a very evil man,
He used to eat his dinner from a filthy frying pan,
And when he’s finished eating he’d play “catch me if you can”
With his desperado first-mate known as Dirty Deadeye Dan.
Now Dan was quite a ladies man, but also fond of booze,
In bars and streets and hotels he liked to drink and cruise,
He used to taunt old-Peg Leg Pete by dragging up old news,
Like Pete had only ever needed half a pair of shoes.
One day Pete had quite enough and things got pretty scary,
Confronting Dirty Deadeye Dan whose mood was always lairy,
A sudden hush fell on the room when Pete clumped in the bar
And Dan called out: “Hey, Peg-Leg, hop on over, have a jar.”
Peg-Leg Pete the Pirate clasped the pistol on his hip
And snarled at Dirty Deadeye Dan: “Enough of your damn lip.”
The floozy sat upon Dan’s lap was dumped onto the floor
And Dan rose to his feet and hissed: “You’d best limp out the door.”
Across the sawdust, blood-stained floor they faced each other down,
And you could hear a pin drop from the other side of town,
Eyes were locked and fingers twitched and seconds seemed like days
The tension burned unbearably and shimmered in the haze.
Both men drew their pistols and both men fired fast,
Flame spat from the barrels with the bullets roaring past,
But neither man could aim for squat and when their guns were done
They’d killed two people in the bar but they weren’t either one.
The barman Blind-man Billy Bragg and the floozy Scar-Faced Sue
Lay dead as dead as doornails, as doornails tend to do,
And through the pall of gun-smoke and the mist of rum and beer
Deadeye Dan called out to Pete: “We’d best get out of here.”
And so they did, they fled the bar, and vanished in the night,
Back to their ship, The Crippled Cock, and sailed on out of sight,
Never to return to shore, and never seen again,
The rumour is they sank and drowned just off the Spanish Main.
The moral of the story is that when you draw a gun,
Be prepared to end your days always on the run,
“Or in your case, always on the limp,” said Dirty Deadeye Dan
To Peg-Leg Pete the Pirate, that very evil man.
I'd love to buy a boat and sail the seas
Just loaf and let the string of life unwind
Drop anchor anytime or place I please
To visit every island I can find
I'd sail from cape to cape, from gulf to strait
Each bay and channel up and down each coast
My dog would be companion and first mate
Most likely, he'd be sleeping at his post
But every night we'd find a still lagoon
Perhaps we row ashore and build a fire
On first appearance, I'd harpoon the moon
And hold him hostage until we retired
A life at sea, beneath large wind filled sails
With peaceful friends, the dolphins, gulls and whales
February 21 2017
by Daniel Turner
~ hummer, far at sea -
wee wings, my steadfast comfort ...
first mate ... of rare worth. ~
Cupid's golden bow and arrow in hand
always hits the target to the tightest degree
shedding his green skin like the chameleon he is
the frog began drowning non-stop smiling as
he fell deeper into ocean colors of all shades a pearl
in a deep pool of beauty bathing so bright
he felt an electric bolt filled with deep undercurrents
string sparks fly in the first kiss with all feeling and intention
String sparks sizzilin' fly in the first kiss and bring
dazzling amazing golden warm struck straight
but oh so gallant and oh so wonderful
In the heart on fire within passion hot
underneath the stars sailing of into space
inside floating around thoughts off the first mate
desires your affectionate smiles, laughs, and grins
sings in the mind's eye grace of a thousand swans in flight
into another space over the Milky Way jewels sparkles a star
tender doting to the soul's eyes
floating to you bouncing inside waves
steaming hot seductive lashes
floating through those curtains we join souls
uniting tender wooing and wonderful woven passion
softly we forever kiss my love as desire always lays with you
I need and crave your love to take me to the edge of the night
dancing in my dreams struck deeply while
turning this world upside down
into a golden paradise ball with all bells and whistles
that I've wished in my life
Cupid's golden bow and arrow in hand
always hits the target tight and perfect
Always! Always! Always! Always!
Liam McDaid and Gary Bateman, Collaborative Free Verse Poem, October 16, 2014
“Abandon ship and from her flee
Better her than all be lost to sea.”
“First Mate, be rendered silent,” is the captain’s plea
“Dear crew, I beg, depart not, stay along with me.”
But Admiral calls from ships numbered three.
“Leave Elpida alone, and Captain, for drowning.”
Then company vanished, quick as a wink.
Left small, untested sailboat to sink.
Night reached down on vast ocean’s face,
And soon sea’s swells were by darkness embraced
Light blazed cross the sky, wind roared from the heat.
The blue’s anger and rage against terrified vessel did beat.
More and most fiercely Elpida battled the deep.
Up ‘til the moment Earth sunk in her teeth.
The storm screamed on, endless as the heavens are deep.
And for half a score years, the sun, from Captain's eyes, night did keep.
For two times for every five, did the captain despair
Lost upon foreign soil, abandon by fleet out there.
To stumble upon natives, fate had it be.
An amiable bunch, again the odd number three.
To restore broken vessel labored the four
Sew up the hull, repair ruptured floors.
And for time, two times, and three times more
Toiled this group ’til there was work no more.
And the sun, as, of course, it would be
Broke the horizon and bore new day on the sea.
Set the deserted again to conquer the deep.
No armada to accompany, but lone Captain, no fleet.
And now, even now, sails Elpida Berregin.
Meeting new worlds by way of the sea.
In all her travels she met again her former fleet,
But Captain did not the Admiral re-meet.
For they had become galleys of ghosts;
Galleys to whom the dead were tending.
Offering up a prayer, Captain took his leave,
And having left, returned to journeying.
“Abandon ship and from her flee.”
Perhaps they, but never me.
Elpida Berregin, mighty galleon proved by sea,
A crew member, forever yours, will I be,
And will serve your Captain most faithfully.
When Madoc roamed these waters,
Aye, fair Madoc of the seas,
I sailed with him, First Mate was I,
We sailed the outer lees.
And to these Emerald Seas we came,
From faroff emerald shores,
To plant our families safe, serene,
For none had come before.
The natives met us naked,
Brave savages for sure!
With arrows fast and spears
They fought, their future not secure.
And thus our arms prevailed
And we took a deadly toll.
Our forts we raised up from the woods,
Our brave lads withstood the foe.
The we vanished without a trace.
No one left here to embrace.
No cunning, blond haired child blue eyed,
No one riding on the tide.
Cupid's golden bow and arrow in hand
always hits the target to the tightest degree
shedding his green skin like the chameleon he is
the frog began drowning non-stop smiling as
he fell deeper into ocean colors of all shades a pearl
in a deep pool of beauty bathing so bright
he felt an electric bolt filled with deep undercurrents
string sparks fly in the first kiss with all feeling and intention
String sparks sizzilin' fly in the first kiss and bring
dazzling amazing golden warm struck straight
but oh so gallant and oh so wonderful
In the heart on fire within passion hot
underneath the stars sailing of into space
inside floating around thoughts off the first mate
desires your affectionate smiles, laughs, and grins
sings in the mind's eye grace of a thousand swans in flight
into another space over the Milky Way jewels sparkles a star
tender doting to the soul's eyes
floating to you bouncing inside waves
steaming hot seductive lashes
floating through those curtains we join souls
uniting tender wooing and wonderful woven passion
softly we forever kiss my love as desire always lays with you
I need and crave your love to take me to the edge of the night
dancing in my dreams struck deeply while
turning this world upside down
into a golden paradise ball with all bells and whistles
that I've wished in my life
Cupid's golden bow and arrow in hand
always hits the target tight and perfect
Always! Always! Always! Always!
Liam McDaid and Gary Bateman, Collaborative Free Verse Poem, October 16. 2014
The draw of the tide...
tugs away inside...
remembered rekindled emotion...
lived on the water ...
remember i ought...
Portugese, on the ocean..
cabin boy ..
on a 3 masted schooner...
we lived on salted pork...
the maggots they walked...
red meat went rotten the sooner..
In Timor it's said ..
we'd get fresh bread...
more chillies, beer by the jug..
first mate was casting the lead..
fathoms testing...
as into the harbour we lugged...
sailing round the Cape Horn ..
suicide borne..
over the side water torn..
ironic the twist
sinking forlorn....
no one there to mourn
drowning there did I exist... :)
where i went onetime....Don Johnson 17-may-11
Unravel your ego
sit down for a spell
Let the cool green glass
of deception dispel
Wind all your hair
'round the wheel and dissolve
Tell me your story
and we'll be involved
You will be captain
and I your first mate
in the skies of forgiveness
pop bubbles of hate
We'll write out our names
with invisible ink
and laugh 'till we hadn't
a thought left to think
Sipping hot cocoa
'round fires of trust
we'll bandage depression
with cider and rust
and blow concentration
'till wishes ensue
and glisten in glass
like reflections of you
(Valentine's Collection)
54.
In Luna's bright Halo you do smile,
your beauty ever shining, Heaven bright.
My Valentine, I join you for a while,
moments spent with you in love's own delight.
Your tenderness makes each day a gift;
our passion provides both warmth and bliss.
I never dreamed love could offer such a lift,
So for Valentine’s Day, I offer a kiss.
I take your kiss and hold it in my heart,
my beloved, I do send one to you.
From your rose of love I shall never part,
let me drown in your eyes of Sapphire Blue.
Our love surpasses passion’s desires
crossing into the spiritual realm.
Unconstricted by Earth’s webs and wires,
I, your first mate, sail with you at the helm.
Into the stars together we do sail,
within Heaven's embrace, you do beguile.
Together in love, we begin our tale,
within Luna's bright Halo, you do smile.
I feel my soul rise when I gaze in your eyes
and I smile when you come into view.
When these feelings I attempt to analyze,
I acknowledge the signs of a love that’s true.
"Within Luna's Bright Halo You Do Smile."
A Collaboration By,
Carolyn Devonshire.
&
Michael .P. Clarke.
13/02/2019.
Hi Carolyn, I must thank you very much for sharing ink with me on this most wonderful Collaboration. It has been both an honour and a pleasure to work on this piece with you Carolyn. You made the process enjoyable and easy. It is wonderful to end this collection with such a wonderful piece. May your heart ever shine gold.
Out apon the sea.
Its hard to catch some relife.
Or find some time to set willy free.
It's a priates life no need to back your
bags.
Just grab a pint.
When in port avoid the sea hags.
Swab the decks and please if
ya gotta puke lean over the side.
Be a good little sea bandit
or you'll be learning were Davey Jones does
reside.
We got fish for breakfest supper and lunch.
Can somone please help the captain.
ya know with a hook for a hand its easy to
get your pants in a bunch.
I gotta walk the plank again ?
Hey it's really rude sticking me with that knife.
It sure would be nice if we put this ship in the water.
Do more than drinking and dreaming of the pirates life.
I really dont trust a captian with a poodle.
It really gets old being harrased.
And cleaning up fee fee's doodle
Dont let Larry steer.
After the tenth time it gets old.
running a ground to go fetch a beer.
No sir I dont belive we'll run into the loch ness monster
off the jersey shore.
No I dont belive the worlds flat.
And I dont care if the five year old first mate swore.
The crows nesk is a perfect place to hide from your
wife.
Were heading the wrong way check the gps.
Yes I really cant take this pirates life.
Yes captian I really doubt A mermaid stole
all the rum.
What's the catch of the day?
Sea monster sure I'll have some.
The captian is crabby and it's time for the
first mates nap.
The cook isnt crying cause he's choppin onions
Its cause he finished the briges of Madison County
yes he's a bit of a sap.
It's probaly not best to duel with a butter knife.
As we set sail yes mam we''ll have the first mate
back befor sundown.
It's kinda messed up living this modern pirates life.
With a hearty laugh, and scallywag's glee
I've acquired their riches, and conquered the sea!
Like a timid lass... they will turn, and flee
showing their backsides, to the likes of me!
Lily livered, they're fearin' my brand!
Shiverin' they be, till they're walking on land!
Arrgg!! shouts first mate, calling out to the crew,
"Tally-ho!" fills me ears, as the chance now ensues
Setting sail in a race, up high on the waves
I spy with my glass, wily cowards to chase
'Tis we, mighty foes, that will ransom the sea!
Mighty bold is me, with me old pirate's creed!
Alas! there he is, what a fool is he!!
To rush into battle with the likes of me!!
Sailin' the waves on the blimey sea
Stung by a sword, the scallywag flees!
How swift he sails, along in the blue..
Yo ho ho! Thar' he be!
He'll be countin' his days, and soon on his knees
A sorry tale, will allot him, his sword just a broom
Me' cross=bone skull is flying wild
and waves a mighty doom!!
I am Blackbeard the Pirate....remember my name!
You will fill up your froth of my flowing fame
You will guzzle ye' grog, or a bit of ye' rum
Yea' ... call me the devil, with a bit of a scum!
Girdled with face of a hundred scars
Fear of me' wrath, either by sun or by stars
It gladdens the heart of a scoundrel like me
You'll best not forget ....tis' a Blackbeard ye' fear!!