Barbary Coast Poem by James Ronan

Barbary Coast

Assuredly I was known by a lifestyle shown,
In the habits of a wanton man.
My story’s best told while toiling for gold,
By the errors of a mislaid plan.

Grubstake in hand by a brazen young man,
From Boston Harbor I made my sail.
Around the south horn the captain was scorn,
In the gullet of a monstrous gale.

In turmoil and strife, I lost hope for life,
While en route to the deep dark drink.
Of my deeds I swore, I’d amend evermore,
By putting my last testament to ink.

Jacks assailed the night and deferred my plight,
By cashing in a miracle or two.
Freed from death’s grip, we cheered our trip,
Extolling praise on a shaken crew.

We consummated our way to San Francisco Bay,
Cruising California’s coastline.
Of the Barbary Coast I dreamed of the most,
In the year of forty-nine.

I leaped on the dock and took lucrative stock,
Of edifices I planned to seize.
Dance halls and saloons churned sinful tunes
With trollops dancing striptease.

It was open for claim, by slight hand of game,
A little below honest and true.
Cards was my game and twas surely a shame,
For the poor souls I found to screw.

Money and power heeds no man's hour,
With destiny I made my date.
Her beauty was divine, no words could define,
The pure pearl of a gal named Kate.

Women were like wine, to taste and refine
My palate for the licentious life.
Kate gave love so true yet gained not her due,
For the longing to become a wife.

Lovers come and go as tides ebb and flow,
And broken hearts did accumulate.
The room dimmed black with pain in my back,
By a bullet from my lover Kate

While graveling for gold, it was my soul I sold,
In a life filled with ambitions.
It was bitter creeds, seeding tainted deeds,
That I traded honor for acquisitions.