The death of a son

“Drop the anchor, let ‘er go!” The sailors tune,
As we put in to shore under the pale yellow moon.
The darkness helps, our identities to dissemble,
Just ordinary sailors, is what we resemble.

I look to my Captain; like a father to me
And my mind drifts to a brief memory
Something that my Captain had once said to me
“All a pirate wants is to acquire
gold, gold, gold. That’s his only desire!”

Now this was to be my first big raid
And if I did well, more than a cabins boy, I’d be made.
My Captain gave the signal; The cry of a gull
I checked my belt, securing my blade,
And from then on things were anything but dull.

With my Captain I went ashore, breathing hard the morning air
But when I saw the watchman, I knew it was a snare.
T’was next to the mill that I saved my Captains heart,
I took his bullet, before the battle could even start.

As I fell to the ground, my Captain did not seem to care;
He stepped over me as I lay there
Though I had served him loyally all this time
I guess he didn’t see me as even worth a dime.
Lying here in the dust, is not where I’d hoped to die
Looking up I can see a light at one end of the sky.

I heard the bells ringing; a sad melody
For me? For my passing, no… it’s Sunday.
My Mother never would have thought I’d spend it in such a way.
Where is she? Probably
In some church, praying for me.

I know that she’s praying “Lord, bring him home!”
But as for me, I’d rather wander far and roam.
Oh, how I long to be back on the water, back on the deep blue sea
That magical place that once captured my heart, the place where I’d once sailed free.