The people of the island greeted them
With open arms and kept an eyeball cocked
For trouble. Pour the beer and mend the hem,
But keep the basement storerooms tightly locked.

The captain's here, the frigging captain's here
With some attractive nuisance by her side
Inspiring worship, ecstasy and fear.
Keep tankards coming. Keep her well supplied

And maybe she'll go hunting somewhere else.
The bride and groom are terrors of the sea.
It's best we do the pillaging ourselves.
Yo ho and matzeltov! From dusk till three

The islanders will celebrate and shout.
But no one breathes until they sail out.

Tags: monday fourteen, poetry, sonnets