| The Pirate | |
| 241 | A pirate washed upon the shore, |
| bedraggled, sore, and drenched, | |
| so weak he couldn’t lift an arm | |
| as crabs pinched at his flesh. | |
| 245 | One day ago he was a king. |
| Men feared him ‘cross the sea – | |
| a pirate known as much for pride | |
| as for his endless greed. | |
| That man had captured twenty ships. | |
| 250 | He’d never known defeat. |
| At ports the singers knew his name; | |
| at court they rued his deeds. | |
| And then one day he glimpsed a craft | |
| through his old telescope, | |
| 255 | He could have fled or just stayed still. |
| He didn’t have to row. | |
| This tory ship was on his turf, | |
| he couldn’t lose control, | |
| then no one would respect his name. | |
| 260 | There’d be no stories told. |
| So onward rowed his pirate ship | |
| against the tranquil sea. | |
| Attack! Attack! Blow all the horns! | |
| “Now gather arms ‘round me! | |
| 265 | My name is Eric Gunderson. |
| The battles I have won | |
| have made me rich beyond compare! | |
| Now rich you will become!” | |
| His men cheered loudly at his brag. | |
| 270 | They rallied to his call, |
| and armed from toe to belt to teeth | |
| stood ready for the brawl. | |
| The distance ‘tween the barges shrank. | |
| Both captains loaded guns. | |
| 275 | At once the world falls deathly still. |
| Then silence comes undone! | |
| The screams of dying men float up | |
| amidst the blinding smoke. | |
| The ocean roars as waves assail | |
| 280 | the desperate tussling boats. |
| And time moves quick, yet stands so still | |
| as sailors drown and die, | |
| but soon the battle starts to turn. | |
| A victor starts to rise. | |
| 285 | It’s Eric, once again on top! |
| He claims his twenty-first! | |
| He watches as his prize sinks down, | |
| and booty is submersed. | |
| His crew watch, too, with avarice, | |
| 290 | they think about that gold – |
| So wet, and far below the sea… | |
| And all of them turn bold. | |
| So captain lies upon a beach | |
| alone, and scarce alive. | |
| 295 | He failed to steal the promised wealth, |
| and thus he took a dive. | |
| Now Eric wakes, and looks about. | |
| He smiles at his state. | |
| That’s twenty-one, and he survived! | |
| 300 | So doomed, but oh so great! |
Ballad of Man 
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