Jack Gillie was a sailor

back three hundred years ago

On the ship he was the tailor

clothes and canvas sails he’d sew

.

The Captain was a fair chap

and the ship was tightly run

He’d construct the trips with trade map

though his job was sometimes fun

.

Out in the far off ocean

a mutiny took place

Some crew men had a notion

that a pirate’s life they’d chase

.

Among those constant worries in 

the corridors of the mind

Jack stood there midst the din

bout his fate he would soon find

.

The Captain had a few

standing by him side by side 

Jack Gillie joined them too

mutineers he couldn’t bide

.

A fight of course begun

with cutlass and with hook

Nowhere for men to run

if they had the time to look

.

In the fight Jack said a prayer

to the good lord up above

‘Please God I know you’re there

I’ll do your bidding for your love’

.

When the sun rose o’er the sea

ten crewmen were now dead

The survivors would agree

be mutineers or leave instead

.

Jack stood there on his own

with pirates he’d not side

On an island all alone

left him standing at next tide

.

Left alone there on the sand

as the ship then sailed off slow

Jack had to understand

one day these images would go

.

He gazed in silence through his tears

and prayed he would survive

‘God it’s taken many years

but to earn your love I’ll strive’

***

 

 This is a selection from Rhyme & Reason: 200 poems