Gabriel the Captain and Elijah the Pirate

Elijah the pirate was kind as you’ll find in a ship that was black as his hat,
And, Gabriel the Captain in the King’s command would chase his own good brother, that’s that,
Elijah would seek only gold that is hid by the other old pirates at sea,
Yet, Gabriel was bound to just bring back the gold and the loot for his king and country.

 

Around island bend with the dawn in his eye the fine Captain Old Gabriel would shout,
“I see the black ship! Drop the sail! Anchor down, or the ‘Pirate’ will see us about!”
Elijah with telescope firm in his hand saw the King’s ship all coming around,
With all calmness he turned to his crew as he said, “Let us show the fine ‘Cap’ what we’ve found!”

 

“Turn about; sail our ship within twelve hundred yards, and then fire one canon astray,”
“I want to parlay, No, I do not want war, for I know we will friends this day!”
By midday Elijah was boarding King’s ship, as he asked for some water to drink,
As Gabriel approached then Elijah just smiled as he said, “We must sit down and think!”

 

“Gabriel my brother, I love you so dear, remember our parting from home,”
“You’re ten; I was six when our father he’d sail on ocean’s great waters and foam,”
“Our mother had died so he took us with him on his ship, and we slaved in the mess,”
“We scrubbed every pan, every kettle and pot; we were stuck and we had no redress!”

 

“But, then we succumbed to that rare storm at sea when the whirlpool just took our ship down,”
“The hull it caved in while the cold water raged, and I hugged you once more for we’d drown,”
“I woke from the depths I was on this black ship where the skull and cross bone flag did fly,”
“I learned to survive with my pistol and sword; had I not then I surely would die.”

 

“I learned through the years you survived the ship wreck on this island by King’s ship you were found,”
“And, now we are here on this desolate shore, not by duty but fate we are bound,”
Now Gabriel stood, and he walked to the rail as he peered at the white barren beach,
“Before father died he just gave me a map, and he said, “The treasure’s in reach!”

 

“He handed me also a link of chain from an anchor all rusted and bent,”
Elijah reached out took the link in his hand rubbed his thumb; said “I know what is meant-“
“By the link of this chain, and the old anchor moved that now rests at the base of a tree,”
“Tonight we will land on the shore with the map, and the link so that we will be free.”

 

They found Elijah’s anchor by the tree he said he’d found,
And, with the map that Gabriel had a chain was in the ground,
With rusty link the brothers bound the link that father gave,
A wondrous light began to glow from hallowed grave!

 

The ground it shook and opened up a golden lightened sheen,
Out of an island mountain near their father could be seen,
Now walking up to sons he states, “It took a great long while,”
“Let’s sail once more, upon the seas, then rest upon this isle!”

 

Peter Lowell Paulson
October 23, 2013