The Captain's Ballad | Teen Ink

The Captain's Ballad

December 1, 2023
By FionaHowler BRONZE, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
FionaHowler BRONZE, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
4 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Upon a ship like maiden young

A sailor set to sea

His heart was bold, his voice was strong

His dream was to be free


He swung those ropes and raised those sails

His spirit like a colt

He climbed those riggings without pause

As his cares start to molt


He rode upon that well built ship

Called Cors Fortis and fit to sail

It was worthy of adventure

And sung a daring tale


Upon the waves three days he went

Where lands were far away

Sea met sky on the distant plane

And all the souls were gay


A tempest threatened one morning

Scarlet clouds filled that sky

Thunder rumbled quickly closer

Watchmen lifted a cry


In no time the storm had arrived

It broke over the ship

Rain slashed down in torrents wild

Lightning flashed as a whip


No fear was in our captain’s heart

He laughed at the great gale

His eyes dared the sea to answer

To his challenge and hail


Answer it did with awful wrath

With terrible power

A doom for our captain daring

But he would not cower


Under the water something stirred

And reared a beastly head

A monster of the darkest deep

Embodiment of dread


Its head reached high amidst the clouds

Its eyes flashed with evil

It scales shone with flashing fires

Teeth sharp as a needle


The beast rose above the vessel

He met it with a smile

His shout echoed above thunder

With drawn sword to meet trial


Hissing a vile, dreadful, horror 

The serpent fell to him

Upon the sword it bled ruby

And found its end was grim


The captain sliced the beast in two

No more to terrorize

The seas were rid of a monster

Under the stormy skies


Yet this does not conclude our tail

For as that serpent sank

It brought along the great slayer 

To water deep and dank


The ship went also down, down, down

To a watery grave

The sea and storm soon calmed its rage

And gently came each wave


Here ends the tale of a captain

‘Twas a valorous man

He sailed, fought, and died with honor

Down with the ship he ran


And sometimes on a misty morn

One might see the ship’s mast

Cutting across the rolling waves

Voyaging to the last


Sometimes a captain’s song in heard

Over the open air

Strengthening hearts who lost their hope

And whispering a dare


Hear the soft call and lend an ear 

To the ghost ship’s brave song

Echoing across vast waters

And learn that you are strong



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This article has 1 comment.


Anno82 GOLD said...
on Dec. 5 2023 at 12:48 am
Anno82 GOLD, Austin, Texas
14 articles 0 photos 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Peace doesn't come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat." -John Ortberg<br /> "God doesn't break things so He can fix them; He fixes broken things so He can use them." -Bob Goff<br /> "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" -Corrie Ten Boom

I really like this, great job!