Peril Keep Poem by Candice James

PERIL KEEP© Candice James

"Aye laddie, off yer arse and swab the bloody deck.
Swab it once then swab it twice. I'll be back to check.
Use muscle, spit and polish. Make the ‘Sea Queen' shine like gold.
If I find a speck o' dirt ye'll be snorin' in the hold.

I runs a tight ship always, even tighter on the main.
I've locked horns with wilds beasts and foes that were the devil's bane
And if ye think ye'll outsmart me yer dumber than ye look.
I've got yer number pirate boy written in me book.
If ye mess with the bearded man that wears the Captain's hat
Ye'll feel ten o' the nine tails snap from the leather cat.
But if your deed be dastardly I'll make ye walk the plank.
Ye can bet yer boots on that me lad like money in the bank.

I've sailed the seven seas and then a wee bit more.
I've always been a savage man that settles every score.
Five hundred men have crossed me boy and they be dead as doors.
Some scoundrels begged for their lives, crawlin' on all fours.
But I be not bent to sentiment or sympathy at all.
Five hundred men have drawn their swords.Five hundred men did fall.
Remember Long John Silver and old Blackbeard his'self?
I sent ‘em down with fatal woundsto Davy Jones' shelf.

So now we be at sea for twenty seven days and one,
Searchin' for a sea dog breeze in this rabid Sun.
But don't lose heart my bra' young tar, I smell the treasure near.
Just around that jut of land an island will appear.
Many a tar heel's lived and died tryin' to find me gold.
Many a map's been spattered with blood and torn along the fold.
The only ones that knows the cave is me and peg leg Fred
And many a moon has come and gone since peg leg Fred's been dead.

So, I's the only one that knows the course we has to steer.
We'll crack that chest and hold the gold and hoist a cup o' cheer.
Har! Look I see the Sun's come up and brought a breeze to boot.
The cook will still be sleepin' lad.Go rustle that old coot.


And while you're at it boy, rouse the wretches from their bed.
Once we've filled our guts with grits we'll sail full speed ahead
To the cave of plenty where we'll share and share alike,
But Captain gets a bit more for his sailin' ship and strike."

The ship did heave. The ship did shudder as they braved the waves
That tossed and turned the ship above old pirates in their graves.
Then round the jut of land they came and the sea became a lake
Placid and inviting them to come and grab their take.

"Thar' she be boys shinin' like a diamond in the deep.
A fortune in gold's buried in the cave of Peril Keep.
So down the boats and man the oars and row hard fer the shore.
Waitin' there fer us, is gold dubloons, and jewels and more.
That rocky faced opening's a sight for these sore eyes.
Inside its jaw then two left jogs be where me treasure lies.
Ye'll get your fair share that's fer sure, the cut won't be lopsided
So when we gets there mind yer manners til the pot's divided."

And so this motley crew debarked and dug with haste and speed
In great anticipation their eyes grew wide with greed
At last they heard the welcome clunk of wood and clang of steel
They brought the chest up to the top and broke the lock and seal

The glare of gold did glitter.Diamonds and rubies shone
They shared the loot and drank the boot until the crack of dawn
Then black eyed Bart with blackguard heart said "I deserve some more"
His pistol aimed at Captain Cord, the shot rang out before
Black Bart could pull the trigger, Billy plugged him ‘tween the eyes.
Black Bart fell dead upon the floor, face frozen with surprise.
The deck hand Billy Bob was now the hero of the day
The Captain's fair haired laddie had made that devil pay!

The Captain and his motley crew can sometimes still be seen
Gliding through the waters on the waterlogged ‘Sea Queen'.
The ghosts of Billy Bob and Captain Cord still sail the deep
Wandering the caverns in the cave of Peril Keep.