"over the waters blue the night winds sigh, the breakers roar”...Lord Byron
I love to be upon the sea
When’er the tides are high
For rough sea does not bother me
Or thunder of the sky
Of this maybe you wonder why
It’s just the way I am
Unafraid and so brave am I
I’m Simple Sailor Sam.
Sailing along I sing with glee
Until the night is nigh
A time to rest this busy bee
To acquire earned shut eye
How quickly time goes floating by
I’m not a lonesome man
As my adventures keep me spry
I’m Simple Sailor Sam.
There’s lots to explore o’er the sea
Dolphins come to say Hi
With acrobatics that cheer me
As I am sailing by
For scenery I have the sky
A gift to an helmsman
Such a jolly sea dog am I
I’m Simple Sailor Sam.
So my hearties please do not cry
I do the best I can
Roaming raging tempests am I
I’m Simple Sailor Sam.
I am a cob swan and I grace the lake
With my pen, who is my lifelong soulmate
Soon the cutest young cygnets will emerge
A major attraction upon the earth.
Have a stride beside the tulips with me
A lovelier vision there'll never be
I nod to the beauties, passing 'em by
And blink them a wink from my roving eye.
A wink is as good as a kiss from me
My beak is much too large, obviously
Tulips, they shiver and shake in reply
How I love the tulips that I glide by.
Tulips all have their own unique splendour
I couldn't decide which one I would opt for
Borders of tulips arouse my delight
When gliding on the lake, morning to night.
This is my swan cantata, sung with glee
Come along hearties, sing aloud with me
It's healthy for lungs, you're sure to agree
When strolling beside tulips merrily.
The pirates were all drinking rum and were drunk
And failed to see the treacherous rocks up ahead
There was one almighty crash and the ship sunk
And they ended up in Davy Jones locker all dead.
Written 17th August 2021.
Toast to the gods
For even glorified men
Are nothing like gods
At the feet of COVID-19
A respecter of none,
The demon slithers
Down the trench
Where man's essence dwells
Corona, the reward of good
In Roman tales
But in ours,
Penance for iniquities
Drink up, me hearties
Corona is fast approaching
For that which you can't fathom
Destruction is nought but a dream
A sailor who loved costume parties
would shout out a wild, “Aye, me hearties!”
This old buccaneer,
role playing with cheer,
got mimicked by all the young smarties.
April 14, 2019
entered in Tania Kitchin's Pirate Themed Poetry Contest Placed third
Brexit Sonnet No. 25
'Treasure These Islands’
So has the ship really sailed away
With second EU vote stowed in hold?
No blasting horn was heard across the bay,
And we were not of this leaving schedule told.
Our all inclusive, most elusive guest,
Has rummaged yet again for leading role.
Potent power, his hand should rudely wrest,
From those who've rented out their hollow soul.
As anchors raise and hands are all on decks,
As white coated Stewards fuss and rush with work,
As all aboard means Captain's final checks.
None of these, their duties lightly shirk.
So avast me hearties, and hoist the mainbrace square
And treasure these islands, with referenda fair.
©Keith Murphy
Those Braves
As pearls remain in sea bed
Braves should be sieved from bravery
yes, the perfection of job can win
By the parameters of human hearts
Those braves did earn from zeroes
Never expected perks and rewards
titles and classes did not pour there
Who they are hearties or braves !
One notion and single motion in faith and path
Always guided them ahead go ahead
Do not judge the results or weathers
Would be favor or depth of fates
Yes they are all those who vitalized the world
Countless their bravery gave humans lives
I love them appreciate them praise and accelerate
Those braves are sources of inspirations for all to raise.
27 6 2017
Almost New Year
Tic Toc, the countdown’s started,
Another year’s nigh done.
Break out the poppers, the salt and the coal,
In with the new and out with the old,
As parties rage on across the land,
Resulutions emerge from boy and man.
Mistakes forgiven, mishaps forgot,
Alliances forges with every shot.
The old care not, the young don’t know,
The lovers see through Rosie glow,
Blinded by hope and fooled by fear
We welcome in a brand new year.
Drink up ye hearties, make merry ye men,
Your future begins with the chimes of Big Ben
Heather Buxton
Almost New Year
Tic Toc, the countdown’s started,
Another year’s nigh done.
Break out the poppers, the salt and the coal,
In with the new and out with the old,
As parties rage on across the land,
Fresh hopes emerge for boy and man.
Mistakes forgiven, mishaps forgot,
Alliances forged with every shot.
The old care not, the young don’t know,
The lovers see through Rosie glow,
Unrealistic vows we make
For ‘New Year’s Resolution’ sake, but
Blinded by hope and fooled by fear
We welcome in this brand new year.
Drink up ye hearties, make merry ye men,
Our future begins with the chimes of Big Ben.
Bin' snifflin' 'nent th' hour o' 12
'pon high deck by me scurvy self
me soulless hearties, dogs o' scum
on lower decks a-flappin' gums
Me keg be dry; I've downed me grog
me head's a-swirl wit' nowt but fog
me ticker's tight; I'm sans me glow
tho' stoked up fer me tit-eyed beau
Th' horizon's bleak; me warty toad
whose slimy self on me has growed
wit' bladed quill scribed clerihew
'n gabbered' wit' a tongue askew
Be cursed, yer nit off bearded buns
o' rottin' dead whale steeped in sun
this 'ere pirate yer beseech
creep whence yer hail, yer vermin leech
NOTE: ALL 'MISTAKES' ARE DELIBERATELY PLACED TO ACCOMMODATE PIRATE SPEAK.
For Nathan's contest. I found myself "at sea" when jilted, hence I opted for pirate lingo.
I wasn’t much of a bonnet gal
never wanting to mess my hair
at scouts I was the first rascal
to toss that beanie in the air
and run the *ell out of there!
My college days brought brims most carnal
which dipped low in the front like Cher’s.
And head scarfs I removed, a scadal,
to wrap around my bosoms bare
so cold in the concerts open-air.
Much latter, at my wedding avowal
with a veil over the whole affair,
I walked down the isle triumphal
with a husband most debonair
and oodles of family who stared.
But my most favorite hat was lethal,
as a pirates moll, I had savior faire,
black leather and most demonical
with peacock feathers trailing for flair
“Argghh, me hearties, I was the bonniest there.”
There is a place I long to be,
Somewhere out there near to the sea.
A dock, a mast, a mouth, a cast,
This place is where my heart will last.
I weep just like a new gull’s cries,
Naught but those skies will dry these eyes.
This be the place I call my home,
With it so far, I feel alone.
Avast me hearties, the pirate cried
We’ll take this ship, the Spaniards pride
Give no mercy, give no quarter
Not to the captain or his daughter
Board the ship and at our leisure
Kill the crew and find the treasure
Then to Tortuga set our course
With no regrets and no remorse
Once in port we’ll give ’em hell
And one day soon they’re bound to tell
Of the sailors who were brave and bold
Took the ship and the Spanish gold
So belay there lads lets get things started
This aint no trade for those faint hearted
Load your pistols grab your cutlass
We’ll show the Spaniards we aint gutless
Splice the main brace, mind that beam
Oh ! Bugger me its just a dream
© John W Fenn 22-12-2008
Avast me hearties, the pirate cried
We’ll take this ship, the Spaniards pride
Give no mercy, give no quarter
Not to the captain or his daughter
Board the ship and at our leisure
Kill the crew and find the treasure
Then to Tortuga set our course
With no regrets and no remorse
Once in port we’ll give ’em hell
And one day soon they’re bound to tell
Of the sailors who were brave and bold
Took the ship and the Spanish gold
So belay there lads lets get things started
This aint no trade for those faint hearted
Load your pistols grab your cutlass
We’ll show the Spaniards we aint gutless
Splice the main brace, mind that beam
Oh ! Bugger me its just a dream
© John W Fenn 22-12-2008
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.