When Lo the ugly monster raised its head from ‘neath the waves,
‘Twas then I beheld its true form and doubted no longer,
What had hounded my ship o’er the stormy seas was this beast.
Its great eye found mine as fast I held to the ship’s helm,
The malice deep within was to me conveyed in that single glare,
Convincing me the time had come for my ship to meet its end,
And I with it, on these briny waves far from home.
As alongside it came, I gave command and listened to the cannons’ roar,
Though I doubted to what effect this defiance would achieve.
But to my surprise, the serpent squirmed and uttered forth a most loathsome cry.
Once again, hope blossomed in my chest, and bellowed forth I again the command to the men,
Whose labors defended our vessel from such a horrid fate, a death in the watery depths.
The order to ready again the guns was obeyed in haste,
As slipped ‘neath the waves again our hunter, wounded by its prey.
A cheer came up from the crew,
Though again danger would come, I knew.
Holding fast the wheel, I scanned the grey waves with wary eyes.
Err long, I heard the foul beasts’ battle cries,
Straight ahead reared its terrible face.
To portside I turned the wheel,
Hoping but doubting to bring the ship ‘round.
My ship did groan, in unison with my men.
Though ‘round she came to my delight,
And another cannonade roared forth in the twilight.
The rearing beast did roar and groan,
Though as it died, it broke the masts with its writhing coils,
Err it slipped down to the depths, to whence it came.
Seeing that the useless sails’ drag sought to bring us down,
I ordered the men to cut the rigging.
With ax and cutlass, they laid about, fighting a new enemy,
Though should they fail, they would know the same fate.
Success was met, though now we floated,
The only tack and masts to aid us now laid in the holds.
As I surveyed my crew and my ship, I knew,
None at home would e’er believe,
That upon these open waters met we the great monster that ever did live.
Written by Matthew L. Henry, 3/6/11
