Rhyme of the Ancient Winchester
Part Two: Instead the Albatross
X marks the spot, as pirates say,
And so splayed on the beach
He wakes at the sound
Of a startled parrots speech.
"What brings you here?"
The ruby eyed ancient crows,
Flapping its molting feathers.
So parched at first, he only groans.
"You can't have what those
Rotted limbs, bleached skulls guard.
In short, all your efforts to come
And steal won't get you far."
Sitting up, he blinks tiredly.
Sam looks out to the calm sea,
Wondering if he could swim.
The parrot laughs. "It's not that easy."
"A storms not all that we can
Conjure up and brew, sea scum."
He glares at the ghastly beast,
Who laughs, "Pirates and their fun."
The bird takes frenzied flight
As Sam stands and glances
At isle's surroundings,
Evaluating his chances.
Barely two steps forward and
The earth begins to laugh.
From the trees he sees
Remnants of the past.
Emerging from the dark
Of their final resting ground,
Shrugging of gems, pearls, gold,
Are men Davy Jones' never found.
The walking skeleton crew
At a Captain's final request
Stand to protect the hoard
Even after their death.
They've no choice but to follow
The lure of their stolen gold.
These dead men tell a tale
In blood of their tortured soul.
Shipwrecked men such as Sam,
Surrounded by this treasure trove,
Must pay the price with their life,
For what they now know.
The parrot is at his side again
Chirping insults in his ear.
His cracked beak says aloud,
"You never should have come here."
Breaking into a run from the advance,
Sam looks ahead and wonders where
He could hope to hide when
The whole isle is a pirate's liar?
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Even Lafayette had trouble
On these choppy waves."
The Coast Guard swimmer says,
Hoping my mind is changed.
I nod curtly as I check my ride.
The motor on the skipper putters.
"I got it- sail safely." I call back.
I head out, my stomach flutters.
The wind is teasing- playful.
If it goes according to plan,
Then I will get tossed
Back into fate's unruly hand.
to be continued