A Mixed Welcome Poem by Howard Osborne

A MIXED WELCOME

Out there, across the bay, I see it clearly now
All here must be thinking of what might come
That ship that stole here so silently in the night
A dark silhouette, with no glimmer of any light
Yet in the cool breeze a whiff of sweat and rum
Finding us here again, yet I dare not think how

We lost twelve good men, it was almost a cull
Tricked or smuggled aboard, to serve their life
But that's just the same for the King's navy too
An early death is likely, all know that it is true
Their tattoos are all made with point of a knife
With a promise of excitement, and never dull

Perhaps in a few days or a week in this town
Some sense of adventure will be calling again
Off to sail with the tide to warm destinations
When all have exhausted their conversations
No men lost this time, so we can't complain
A little gold spent, and so no need to frown

Its sails are unfurled, and anchor is weighed
The ship heads East in this cold early dawn
Toward the horizon, perhaps for adventure
We're present and correct, none in absentia
Maybe just for a few, loyalties may be torn
Yet on most faces here, it is relief displayed