The Ballad Of Anne Bonny, Page 2 Of 2 Poem by John Bliven Morin

Anne and Mary alone did fight,
But outnumbered far were they;
Their ship was taken and the men awakened
By the Governor’s men that day.

Now Calico Jack, he plead for the lives
Of both Mary Read and Anne,
And then his plea: permission to see
His Anne before he hanged.

“I tried in vain to save your life,
And now they’re hanging me;
Adieu, ma belle, we may meet in hell,
I wish it would not be.”

“If you’d fought like a man, my Calico Jack,
And not sleeping off your grog,
As we women did, when they found our brig,
They’d not hang you like a dog! ”

The Governor hanged her Calico Jack,
And Mary died in the gaol,
But a mystery man saved the valiant Anne,
And far away they sailed.

Some say they went to Virginia’s shores,
Then west with the pioneers,
But never was heard another word
Of the Queen of the Buccaneers!

“Drain the bowl, each fearless soul!
Let the world wag as it will;
Let the heavens howl, the devil growl,
Drain the bowl, and fill! ”