A Pirates Life

Just thought I'd share the personalized poem I found for our friend's daughter on her 3rd birthday. It was written by my namesake in the 17th century and, until some recent year, it was stored in the British museum of Curios and Trivia and it found it's way to our family when I was born.

 A Pirate's Life

 by James T. Allerton

Twas late one night on a dead calm sea

When first I saw her a starin' at me

with one good eye and a hook for a hand

A more fearsome pirate I never did see

The galley was upon us as quick as a flash

The volley of cannon tore a big gash

in the topsail of our little schooner

"Heave to" said the pirate, "Or we'll turn you to mash!"

"Heave to!" Said our Captain, "For it's plain to see"

"It's no ordinary pirate a gunnin' for ye"

"for I can hear the song they are a singin'"

"That dreadful chorus of the jolly pirate queen!"

Oh a pirates life is a merry one

Full of treasure and full of fun

and no one can take it away from me

Or they'll taste my galley's twenty gun!

The pirates pulled alongside our outclassed men

We didn't want to be food for a shark's fin

and all the while we could hear the chorus

From the pirate crew and their queen, Ashlin

Oh a pirates life is a merry one

Full of treasure and full of fun

and no one can take it away from me

Or they'll taste my galley's twenty gun!