A wee digression to set the stage for further mayhem


II Calico Joe... The Laird Jake

My name is Joe but Calico
is how I'm called by those who know
of how I got this patterned face
A few years back off St. Ignace

Seems that I'm a wee bit queer
I'm been left of hand for all my years
But what makes me odd and took its toll
I'm left of eye too bless my soul

I always shoot from port by chance
Most others use a starboard stance
I have a flint lock fowling piece
Made just for me if you please

The powder pan is left not right
To keep the flash from out my sight
One night aboard the good Laird Jake
A rowdy crowd tried to take

My cargo away against my will
And Jake as well to pay a bill
Now Jim and I both like to be
Armed and ready when at sea

These gentlemen made a pretty show
Till I fired rock salt nice and low
But bad luck I had picked Jim's fowling Piece
so the flash caught me full on my right cheek

When all was done Jim smiled a tad
And said my pretty face's patriot hue
All mottled red white and blue
Like a calico dress his mother wore
So the moniker stuck but I'm not sore

As master of the good Laird Jake
I'm Calico for fortune's sake






Poetry by josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 699 times
Written on 2013-06-10 at 00:19

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Enjoy the reading, Well done!
2013-06-11


StillHoppin The PoetBay support member heart!
A much enjoyed read! Good from the engaging start all the way through to the last line (perfect last line, by the way).
2013-06-10



Thank goodness you picked up mine, and not vice versa. Now that would have been a disaster. Beware the fowling piece that goes afoul. Or, the fowler that favors his matey's fowling piece.

The crew respectfully asks for more rum.
2013-06-10