See part one
Also part two
Down deep in the ship's holdA fourth and final installment to follow.
so we've always been told
the cargo of powder and ball.
Small arms and in crate
they found cannon times eight
turning back to port was the call.
The ship filled out the sail
determined to not fail
to attack the ships of the king.
With the same flag as the ship
while the moon was to dip
the attack did more than sting.
The king's ships were ablaze
and in a matter of days
the fleet's losses did mount.
Now with the ship's crew
the cook's loyalty grew
with each victory they did count.
Though with blood on their hands
they dreamed of white sands
on a beach of a foreign shore.
With supplies running low
they finally turned to go
and retire from their private war.
But the admiral of the fleet
would not give in to defeat
and engaged them on August the fourth.
They no longer could hide
from the admiral's pride
she fired on the ship from the north.
Cook saved the jester twice
but couldn't make it thrice
as jester took a bullet that day.
He saw them take sure aim
then protected his dame
by jumping just then in the way.
The cook ordered the helm
"Turn to the ship of the realm"
to block the admiral's flight.
The admiral could not turn
his deck it did burn
but he wouldn't give up the fight.
Starboard guns ordered to fire
"Light that ship into a pyre"
the last words the admiral said.
His ship then split in two
the cook's ship ran it through
the sea depths belonged to the dead.
Linked to Poets and Storytellers United: Writers’ Pantry #17: Growing Safety