MAY DAYS POEMS 'Piratical Urges' May 23

May23

On this day in 1701 William Kidd was hanged on the banks of the Thames River for piracy. The first rope put around this neck broke so he had to be strung up a second time. His corpse was placed in a gibbet at the mouth of the Thames River and left to rot, as an example to other would-be pirates.

We know him better as Captain Kidd, the pirate. Kidd who was born in Dundee, Scotland became a privateer. Privateers enjoyed a successful trade around the world. Privateer ships were warships that were privately owned, but had government permission to attack enemy ships. The privateer would then share any booty with the government. Unfortunately for Captain Kidd, the rules changed and the privateer/pirate became an outlaw.

Piratical Urges

William Kidd

Was a privateer

A buccaneer

A man with piratical urges

He plundered ships

Stole their treasure

Then hid it away for personal pleasure

Captain Kidd

You paid a price

For what you did

A public hanging

An infamous end

A pirate’s life

Is a dangerous blend.

Alan j Wright

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