Nat'l Poetry Month No. 6

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.

Women's History Month No. 6

"Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."

Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

So. According to Wikipedia anyway, the seafaring pirate, Anne Bonny was born on this day in 1702 and only she & heaven only knows who else knew when she died. Conjure on the hard, grimy life & times of such a person. To help you in your efforts, do find a copy of The Ballad of the Pirate Queens, by Jane Yolen & David Shannon, geniuses both, who've well & truly earned my admiration & jealousy. Here is one and here is another nifty LINK about Anne Bonny, also spelled Bonney, by the way, who must have been a most extraordinary soul who once walked the earth & sailed the seas. Safe harbour to her & to us all.