a captain goes down with his ship.

the sail scoops up the wind 

a cannon fires 

I reach for my sword 

hoping it’s just a warning 

then the ship splinters 

I cry out for someone on the crew

but then,

there no sounds of our cannons 

blood splinters the deck 

and the boat begins to rock 

I help a mate to his feet 

only to slip 

and both of us fall 

blood sticking to my greasy beard 

the waves roar past us 

clawing the ship to pieces 

with the caws of cackling voices 

and the pop of pistols 

suddenly I’m at the bottom 

the crimson sun shining though the pale waves 

sinking further and further down 

well, you know what they say