Even pirates had their standards. One of the most famous and successful pirates was Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts (1682-1722). He was a Welshman who worked diligently with the crew of his ship, the Royal Fortune to draft bylaws in 1722. This was the pirate’s code. Here are a few of his actual rules and regulations:
- Your Vote Matters
“Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of the moment. He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized, and shall use them at pleasure unless a scarcity makes it necessary for the common good that a retrenchment may be voted.”
- It’s Best Not to Steal
“Every man shall be called fairly in turn by the list on board of prizes, because over and above their proper share, they are allowed a shift of clothes. But if they defraud the company to the value of even one dollar in plate, jewels, or money, they shall be marooned. If any man rob another, he shall have his nose and ears slit, and be put ashore where he shall be sure to encounter hardships.”
- Leave the Gambling to the Landlubbers
“None shall game for money, either with dice or cards.”
- Stay on Your Toes and Be Battle-Ready
“Each man shall keep his piece, cutlass and pistols, at all times clean and ready for action.”
- Worker’s Comp for All
“Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have eight hundred pieces of eight from the common stock, and for lesser hurts proportionately.”
Pirate Poems: Try It
If you were the captain of a pirate ship (first, give it a name), what kinds of rules, regulations, or standards of conduct would you enlist? How would you enforce these hard and fast rules? Create a poem about the bylaws you’ve instituted aboard your vessel. You can also write a poem about the bylaws above.
Don’t forget to be good to your hearties, or they’ll mutiny.
Featured Poem
Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s poetry prompt. Here’s a poem from Andrew we enjoyed:
A Retired Sailor Seeking Work
I am he who the poet said once flew
The sound-fraught bay, vex’d the dim seas
And sped the globe around to chase
The rainy Hyades.
I’ve smelled the ocean brine
And knew it well – each curve,
Each twist of its tempestuous swell
Laid open for my eyes.
The far-off wooded cove oft struck my sight
When on the sea-tossed boards,
And often when the ship was slow
Strained forward, ever forward
With thought and mind in equal store
Yearning to set my foot upon the distant shore.
But now a sea-dog left to dry,
I while away the dreary hours,
Well liked, and oft remarked to cry
“Oh how I’d sell my soul for but one fee,
To ride once more upon the rolling sea!”
Yet I am old, and age hath left me
But a shadow of my youth,
Kept nothing of my features bold,
But graven on me the likeness of death.
The blood that courses in my veins is cold,
But not from just the passing years.
You may not see it, who hears this tale
But I have wept a thousand tears
For every week away from Neptune’s hold.
Take me on board and I will serve
As faithfully as God does man.
Let me once more feel land’s retreat
And I will kneel down at your feet,
The broken remnant of a broken sailor.
Once, I fought on land and sea for glory,
For distinction well deserved. And such I won,
But it does me no favour now
When I must ask with bated breath
If when you leave this god forsaken isle
Your crew will house an extra one.
—by Andrew
Photo by Oona Räisänen. Creative Commons via Flickr.
Browse more pirate poems
Browse more writing prompts
Browse poetry teaching resources
How to Write a Poem uses images like the buzz, the switch, the wave—from the Billy Collins poem “Introduction to Poetry”—to guide writers into new ways of writing poems. Excellent teaching tool. Anthology and prompts included.
“How to Write a Poem is a classroom must-have.”
—Callie Feyen, English Teacher, Maryland
- Poetry Prompt: Misunderstood Lion - March 19, 2018
- Animate: Lions & Lambs Poetry Prompt - March 12, 2018
- Poetry Prompt: Behind the Velvet Rope - February 26, 2018
Rick Maxson says
‘Round the Wind
‘Tis the good ship, Bless the Wind
sailed proud in the sea of mind.
Up the mast I made my way,
with the birds and the clouds I’d play,
a Kidd with the pirate kind.
For hours to the land, I’m blind,
young wings in a tamarind,
far from home on a branch I’d sway.
On my good ship!
To the way of the world, I sinned,
not for torn pants, nor knees skinned,
but I’d ventured beyond home’s cay,
where I was commanded to stay.
For now, I dream in my room, disciplined.
On my good ship!
Heather Eure says
This is darling, Rick! What a brave adventure.
Glynn says
The Sea Witch meets democracy
Well, me mateys, we be changing
how we elect our captain
of the Sea Witch, the bane
of the Spanish Main
we have some rules now,
on how to behave now,
among our pirate brethren
and among our prey
put the sword down
fool, or I’ll use it
to slice a smile, permanent
on your ugly mug
as I was saying
we have new rules,
pass the rum, you blighter,
I need a swig.
You elect your representatives,
the pirates of council,
nicely, now, without killing,
or maiming, or slicing an arm
of a leg or two,
and I appoint a few worthies
as super-pirates of council
well, yes, an ear or finger
might be permissible
and they come together
to meet in session,
a session of pirates,
to elect the captain
of this fine ship of state,
our Sea Witch.
We do it proper, now,
with votes, beating our swords
into oars, but I should mention
the captain retains a veto
on who walks the plank
and how the shares divide
but that’s only right and fit
and if you don’t agree
I’ll veto your head
with a sword right here
and now
we be democratic now,
we vote proper now,
and the Sea Witch
will never be the same
now.
Heather Eure says
Haha! Oh, the commentary! I’ll be quoting this phrase all week: “as I was saying
we have new rules”
Monica Sharman says
Bask in the sunshine; you may
next moment be battered on the rocks.
Plan everything. Escape
when you can. Keep all
wisdom in two words: wait
and hope. When you wish
for death, you will later know
how good it is to live.
Dread pen and ink
more than pistol.
Keep silent. Speak
every language
without accent.
Remember: what has
once been done
may be done again.
Devote your life
to your enterprises.
Take no food or drink
in the house of your enemy.
Take every name
but your own.
(a found poem from The Count of Monte Cristo)
Heather Eure says
Oh! The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorites. Thank you for “finding” a poem in it!
Monica Sharman says
So I was using Mango Languages to relearn Japanese and found out that “Pirate” is one of their language options:
https://www.mangolanguages.com/available-languages/learn-pirate/