Category: Free bird Poetry

  The Secret Life Of Livermold (Part 3)

The next day, I really dug in.

Black Beard was where to begin.

It seems he killed all on board.

All the gold increased his hoard.

For some reason, he headed north.

But, where to?, was my retort.

Many say he went to Oak Island.

Formally Smith’s Island,

also Gloucester Isle for awhile.

But why there? It made me smile.

All wild tales, nothing but myth.

Many others lay claim to The Money Pit.

Why the connection with Oak Island

And Black Beard? I felt like crying.

No one can prove if there’s a treasure.

Its been put to every measure.

It even spawned a TV series.

It is enough to make me weary.

That evening, while in the recliner,

I started thinking, I had a reminder.

This all tied together somehow.

The question is: What do I do now?

Then, the ship started moving again.

It grew bigger and I was sucked in.

Black Beard and his men had captured the crew.

Suddenly, I knew what I had to do.

I yelled “Black Beard, don’t kill them.”

“I have a way we can all win.”

Black Beard pulled me aside.

“What cha mean, or I bust yer hide.”

I told him I was an engineer.

I built things. I made that very clear.

I said for him to give me one day.

“I will draw up plans” I say.

“Make your treasure safe forever.”

He saw that I was very clever.

“What do you want for doing this?”

“Only the lives of this crew. I insist.”

“They will all be needed for the work.”

He gave me a day and I started to work.

I laid out The Money Pit on Oak Island.

I worked hard. “I can picture it”, I sighed.

Two ways it will be flooded if ever invaded.

All the layers of the deep pit.

Booby trapped when it fit.

It must go way below sea level.

“This will work. No one will meddle.”

Black Beard loved the plans.

“Where will we do this, if you can?”

“A place called Oak Island will do.”

The pirates sailed to the place with the crew.

Two years of hard work to complete it all.

Black Beard kept his word, after all.

All were set free with the fear of God installed.

If anyone talked, they would be keel hauled.

I popped in and out a few times.

Never missed or taken for a crime.

When done, I popped home for the last time.

This secret life was only mine.

I kept my word to Black Beard.

I have never said a word.

———————————R.W. Johnson—–(2017)

 

 

 

    The Secret Life Of Livermold (Part 2)

The picture of the ship was still in place.

No indication what happened? A waste.

I went to bed with much tribulations.

Whatever happened, I had no indication.

Next day, I went on the computer.

I looked up the Spanish ship intruder.

I had almost given up.

Then, I found it. What luck.

There was such a ship in 1781

 I was sure it was the right one.

It was scuttled by pirates, gold was taken.

It was off the Virginia coast, if not mistaken.

The pirate was believed to be Black Beard.

The famous Oak Island treasure? How weird.

This made no sense to me in any way.

I had to make sense of it today.

I used a magnifying glass on the ship.

I saw the name. I could barely read it.

It said the S S Scuttle.

This was a real muddle.

I read all about Black Beard and Oak Island.

Then, I just sat there in silence.

I looked at the painting again.

Soon, it seemed to move within.

It grew rapidly larger and I was sucked in.

I was in the first mate’s cabin then.

There was a knock on the door.

Captain Crutch, looking the same as before.

“Have you got the Captain’s Log up to date?”

“Get to work on it. Don’t want to be late.”

“Aye, aye Captain,” I said with ease.

“Can I have a word in private, please.”

“What is it First Mate Livermold?”

“Black Beard is the problem, history told.”

“Black Beard!! The cut throat pirate?”

“Yes Sir. For your gold, he may try it.”

“History said he stole your gold.”

“Then sunk your ship, or so it’s told.”

“I am only warning you Captain.”

“Do you think I am a sap then?”

“I have been ready for pirates daily.”

“It will be his ship that sinks, maybe.”

Then there was a shout from above.

“Pirates!! Man those cannons ya lugs!!”

The Captain rushed to the deck.

I started to follow in respect.

Suddenly, I got really dizzy and fell.

As I fell, I gave a yell.

I landed in my recliner again.

I was hugging it like an old friend.

I was shaking. It had happened again.

This is real. I cannot pretend.

I could not understand what was going on.

But, intended to find out before too long.

——————————R.W. Johnson—–(2017)

 

 

 

 

    The Secret Life Of Livermold (Part 1)

Time to sit down and just relax.

The recliner is where it’s at.

I kick back and give a sigh.

Raise up the feet on the first try.

I’m getting comfy, looking around.

I see the picture that I’d found.

A picture of a sailing ship.

Framed and looking real fit.

I had hung it on the wall.

It looked pretty good after all.

I had found it in an old trunk.

In the basement, under junk.

Got it when I bought this mansion.

Bought as is; maybe I can win.

Suddenly, the ship began to move.

Then, it grew larger, I behoove.

It encompassed me totally.

I was on board. Somebody hold me.

The ship was rocking on the waves.

Salty spray hitting on my face.

Sailors saw me and gave a shout.

“Stow away” “What’s he about?”

I couldn’t make myself clear.

I didn’t know how I got here.

They were thinking I was crazy.

“Throw him in the hold, ya laze’s!”

The Captain gave the order.

They took me to the hold in quick order.

The Captain came to talk to me.

“Why are you on my ship?”

I didn’t give him any lip.

I told him all that I know.

Told him I had nowhere to go.

“You expect me to believe that crap?”

“You think I’m a stupid cargo rat?”

I said “No. But, the story is true.”

“I’m not trying to make a fool of you.”

“What year is it where you came from?”

“2017, May is about to come.”

“What!!—– It is 1781.”

“What the hell??,” I yelled.

“Have I died and gone to hell??”

“You may wish it, from what I can tell.”

“What is your name, landlubber?”

“I am Tracy Lovermold, Gov’ner.”

“Captain to you. That’s a weird name.”

“So I have been told. Drives me insane.”

“Call me Captain Crutch.”

He said as much.

“Another weird name, I believe.”

“I use a crutch. I won’t deceive.”

The Captain showed him his wooden leg.

“What kind of ship is this keg?”

“A merchant ship. We sail for Spain.”

“Tell me. What is the ship’s name?”

“S. S. Scuttle is her name and fame.”

“We bring a load of gold back to the queen.”

“Where are we now? Caribbean, it seems.”

“Off the coast of America, headed home.”

“Any pirates in this area?” I said.

“Why are you mentioning pirates? You’re dead!!”

“No, no. I only mentioned it because of history.”

“What about history? Talk, or you’re history.”

“Many ships with gold sank or were scuttled by pirates.”

“It is in history books.—– I’ll be quiet.”

“What you say is true.”

“That’s why I tend to maybe trust you.”

“Also, you’re clothes are very strange.”

“ Maybe you tell the truth, or I’m insane.”

“If on this ship, you’ll have to work.”

“What was your trade in this quirk?”

“I was an engineer.” I said.

“What the hell is that?” he led.

“I make things, most not invented yet.”

“Educated eh? I have a job for you set.”

“My first mate died in route.”

“It is tough without him about.”

“You will do his job. Keep up the log.”

“Do good and I won’t feed you to the hogs.”

“Sleep here tonight. First mates bunk  a mess.”

“I will get it cleaned, then you’re all set.”

I went to sleep on some sacks of oats.

Rocked to sleep by the rocking of the boat.

I woke up with a start, scaring the cat.

I was back in my recliner. How about that??

Was this all a dream?

The ship’s picture was on the wall, it seemed.

What the hell just happened to me?

My clothes were damp and smelled like the sea.

I had a few oats on my clothes.

What happened here, nobody will know.

———————————————R.W. Johnson—–(2017)