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So, proud I am that THIS poet is a genial gent and a buddy of mine: David L. Harrison of Springfield, MO.
THIS is the opening poem of PIRATES, one of his many, many fine books. I like it so much I even bought a copy of it and I'd advise you to do the same. (Illustrations by Dan Burr: also excellent.)
Pirate Nest
Times were hard for some men.
They slept in places
roaches would snub,
ate when they were able,
drank what they could.
The waterfront teemed
with men like that,
living life on the bottom rung,
neither giving
nor expecting mercy.
Tomorrow would be
like yesterday –
rotting teeth, rat bites,
odd jobs loading ships,
stealing a coin now and then.
Men like that nursed
their bruises with their beer,
brooded, plotted revenge on life,
decided that dying as a pirate
was better than living
like
this.
