November 25, 2008 - Tuesday DD - A Pirate Poem by the Great McGonagall

CAPTAIN TEACH ALIAS "BLACK BEARD"
by William McGonagall

Edward Teach was a native of Bristol, and sailed from that port
On board a privateer, in search of sport,
As one of the crew, during the French War in that station,
And for personal courage he soon gained his Captain's approbation.

'Twas in the spring of 1717, Captain Harnigold and Teach sailed from Providence
For the continent of America, and no further hence;
And in their way captured a vessel laden with flour,
Which they put on board their own vessels in the space of an hour.

They also seized two other vessels and took some gallons of wine,
Besides plunder to a considerable value, and most of it most costly design;
And after that they made a prize of a large French Guinea-man,
Then to act an independent part Teach now began.

But the news spread throughout America, far and near,
And filled many of the inhabitants' hearts with fear;
But Lieutenant Maynard with his sloops of war directly steered,
And left James River on the 17th November in quest of Black Beard,

And on the evening of the 21st came in sight of the pirate;
And when Black Beard spied his sloops he felt elate.
When he saw the sloops sent to apprehend him,
He didn't lose his courage, but fiendishly did grin;

And told his men to cease from drinking and their tittle-tattle,
Although he had only twenty men on board, and prepare for battle.
In case anything should happen to him during the engagement,
One of his men asked him, who felt rather discontent,

Whether his wife knew where he had buried his pelf,
When he impiously replied that nobody knew but the devil and himself.
In the Morning Maynard weighed and sent his boat to sound,
Which, coming near the pirate, unfortunately ran aground;

But Maynard lightened his vessel of the ballast and water,
Whilst from the pirates' ship small shot loudly did clatter.
But the pirates' small shot or slugs didn't Maynard appal,
He told his men to take their cutlasses and be ready upon his call;

And to conceal themselves every man below,
While he would remain at the helm and face the foe.
Then Black Beard cried, "They're all knocked on the head,"
When he saw no hand upon deck he thought they were dead;

Then Black Beard boarded Maynard'a sloop without dismay,
But Maynard's men rushed upon deck, then began the deadly fray.
Then Black Beard and Maynard engaged sword in hand,
And the pirate fought manfully and made a bold stand;

And Maynard with twelve men, and Black Beard with fourteen,
Made the most desperate and bloody conflict that ever was seen.
At last with shots and wounds the pirate fell down dead,
Then from his body Maynard severed the pirate's head,

And suspended it upon his bowsprit-end,
And thanked God who so mercifully did him defend.
Black Beard derived his name from his long black beard,
Which terrified America more than any comet that had ever appeared;

But, thanks be to God, in this age we need not be afeared,
Of any such pirates as the inhuman Black Beard.

Daily Dose 11/12/08 IN OU TIME OF JOY, SOBER OBSERVATIONS BY A GEAT UUGUAYAN AUTHOR

Subject: Eduardo Galeano: Hopes and Fears
Eduardo Galeano: Hopes and FearsThe Progressive posted November 7, 2008

http://www.progressive.org/mag/galeano110708.html

Hopes and Fears
by Eduardo Galeano

Once in office, will Obama prove that his bellicose threatsagainst Iran and Pakistan were just words spoken to lure ina certain category of voter during the election? Let's hopeso. And let's hope he isn't for a moment tempted to repeatthe exploits of George W. Bush. After all, Obama had thedignity to oppose the war in Iraq while the Republican andDemocratic parties cheered the announcement of thisbloodbath.

During his campaign, "leadership" was the most frequentlyused word in Obama's speeches.

As President, will he continue to believe that his countrywas chosen to save the world, a toxic idea that he shareswith almost all of his colleagues? Will he continue toassert that the U.S. is the leader of the world and believein its messianic mission to command?

Let's hope that the current crisis, which is shaking theimperial foundations, will at least serve to provide theincoming government with a healthy dose of realism andhumility.

Will Obama accept that racism is permissible when practicedagainst countries that his country invades? Is it notracism to meticulously tally the deaths of the invaders ofIraq while ignoring with Olympian arrogance the far largernumber of Iraqi dead? Isn't it racist that the world hasfirst, second, and third class citizens and first, second,and third class dead?

Obama's victory was universally celebrated as a victory inthe battle against racism. Let us hope that from his firstacts as President he accepts and lives up to this beautifulresponsibility.

Will the Obama Administration confirm yet again thatDemocrat and Republican are two names for the same party?

Let us hope that the will for change that these electionshave consecrated is more than just a promise and a hope.May the new Administration have the courage to break withthe tradition of the single party disguised as two that atthe hour of truth behave almost identically while theypretend to be fighting one another.

Will Obama make good on his promise to close the sinisterprison at Guantanamo?

Let us hope so, and that he will end the sinister blockadeof Cuba.

Will Obama continue to believe that it is a good idea tobuild a wall along the Mexican border to keep Mexicans fromcrossing into the US., while vast sums of money move acrosswithout ever showing a passport?

During the campaign Obama never candidly discussed thesubject of immigration. Let us hope that from today on, nolonger having to worry about losing votes, he will be ableand willing to abandon this idea of the wall--which wouldbe far longer and more shameful than the Berlin Wall--andindeed all walls that violate people's freedom of movement.

Once President, will Obama, who supported the recent giftof $700 billion to the banking industry, continue the usualpractice of privatizing profits while socializing losses?

I fear that he will, though I hope that he won't.

Will Obama sign and abide by the Kyoto agreement, or willhe continue to allow the biggest polluter on the planet topollute with impunity? Will he govern for people, or forautomobiles? Will he shift the devastating course of a wayof life in which the few steal the destiny of the many?

I fear he won't, though I hope he will.

Will Obama, the first black President of the United States,realize the dream of Martin Luther King, or the nightmareof Condoleezza Rice?

This White House, which is now his house, was built with the labor of black slaves. Let's hope he never forgets that.

[Eduardo Galeano, Uruguayan writer and journalist, is author of Open Veins of Latin America and Memories of Fire.]

[IN HONOR OF OUR BELOVED ELECTORAL PROCESS, I WANTED TO SEND OUT A PIRATE SONG FOR ELECTION DAY... NOT A REAL PIRATE SONG BUT MY FAVOITE ONE.]

Stan Rogers - Barrett's Privateers Lyrics Album:

Oh, the year was 1778, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
A letter of marque came from the king,
To the scummiest vessel I'd ever seen,God damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe last of Barrett's Privateers.

Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
For twenty brave men all fishermen whowould make for him the Antelope's crew
God damn them all!I was told
we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe last of Barrett's Privateers.

The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight,HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
She'd a list to the port and and her sails in rags
And the cook in scuppers with the staggers and the jagsGod damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.

On the King's birthday we put to sea, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
We were 91 days to Montego BayPumping like madmen all the wayGod damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
On the 96th day we sailed again, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four pounders we made to fightGod damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe last of Barrett's Privateers.

The Yankee lay low down with gold, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
She was broad and fat and loose in the staysBut to catch her took the Antelope two whole daysGod damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.

Then at length we stood two cables away, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
Our cracked four pounders made an awful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us inGod damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
The Antelope shook and pitched on her side, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggsAnd the Maintruck carried off both me legsGod damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.

So here I lay in my 23rd year, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
It's been 6 years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterdayGod damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe last of Barrett's Privateers.