Sitting here at my leisure
Running my fingers through
One of my chests of treasure.
Oh those were the days, me hearties;
Sometimes I have to wonder
How I survived those times
Of roistering and plunder,
For the life of a pirate
Was one of joy and sport
With at least one jolly wench
Lodged in every port.
And happy days at sea
Out on the Spanish Main
Singeing Spaniards' beards
To spite the King of Spain.
But now I am retired
Having made my pile
To live here so quietly
But with a certain style.
And once a year I don my costume
To head for the Yorkshire shore
And for a just a few days become
A jolly buccaneer again once more
For the Withernsea Pirate Festival
Where, with cutlass in hand
I enjoy the company of
That jolly Yorkshire band.
I'm Captain Jack the Pirate
All ready to appear
So I hope to see you all there
In the summer of this year.
Withernsea is an East Yorkshire seaside resort and the annual Pirate Festival is one of their many attractions. For the first time this year
I have had the honour of being asked to appear in their Poetry Corner.
