Luna Pirates I-V

a chandelier of rainbows
tattooed below her eyebrow
blush and bruised, Captain Luna
inspected the sloppy crew
dressed in their business suits
every member, a new recruit

Luna lit the lamplight but, having the foresight
she'd have wagered against them in a fistfight
the nine scallywags in suit and tie
these scoundrels, nobody skunked
the Captain usually takes crews that set sail drunk

taking the rookie sailors on
the Luna Pirates left port at dawn
peaceful waters did not last long
an enemy pirate flag appeared
gaining from the rear

each struggled, fighting their men back
but Luna's crew took their deck
felt every prick of sword and gun
dump 'em overboard, the Luna Pirates have won
pirating is pleasure when you begin the job numb

blood of the thieves flows through the seas
pirates eat peppers and beef, no beef
down to check the hold for gold
some rice, some wine and a chest marked "Oro"
six silver goblets and a black crystal skull

Luna instructed the pirates to pack it in
they sailed to port soon, if they were late, they'd swim
winding down, everyone involved sought a juicy meal
and a lead on where they could cut a deal
on all the many things they would steal


with just a skeleton crew
Luna and the nine in their suits
hold, packed with wine, water and food
set sail in their fixed ship around noon
renegades enslaved to the golden age
in pursuit of that fast and bloody wage
what is yours is theirs, and they will take

they took to the sea headed toward Newfoundland
Luna pirates, running guns for the Vikings
sold them the weapons, but didn't mention ammunition
the pirates were taught to grow corn and given a festival
a feast of poultry and pork, squash, wine, and breads
it was a wonderful night, many laughs were shared
a pity that at sundown every Viking was dead

when the job was over, Luna took charge of the crew
shouting orders at everyone in regard to the loot
she settled if an item were quality or if it got the boot
then Luna packed up her nine pirates in suits
they sailed on the open seas of blue
weak and sore from lugging around loot
middle of the night, alarm bell rang, and a fight ensued

plastic gangsters peeking over the starboard maindeck cannons
seven men circle two throwing elbows
a suit pulls a dagger, slashing, striking the other suit in the lower abdomen
Captain Luna, on deck, made her approach
all is silent and the suits have stopped their dispute
the Captain said "Don't let me stop you
go ahead, continue on killing off my crew
or rather, Seize them! You'll both be hanged at noon!"


Captain Bart was starved for days
survived, farming buckets of rain
his captors tied him in chains
dying of hunger pangs, at first, boosting his rage
craving retribution, the thrill of the kill
but, time weakened his will
which, in turn, weakened his hate

his spirits dissolved to dust
as the many dawns turn to dusks
imprisoned at the naval base
Bart failed his suicidal raid
he infiltrated the barracks in ranked disguise
the Captain had a gate guard escort him to his prize
when an alarm bell took them both by surprise

another guard from across the yard
spied an identifying mark of Captain Bart
from a tower, meters high, the guard had spied
a chandelier of rainbows below Bart's made-up eye
Bart shared the mark with five, there once were six
destroying the world under Luna's flags and ships
taking their claim, claiming their fame, getting their fix

turn attention to the brig
located back on Luna's ship
two suits to hang, next day at noon
examples make a stronger crew
Luna heard the news of Bart's failed raid on the fort
to rescue her friend, quick to the port
two suits choose, rejoin the crew or suffer the noose

docking at the shores of the Port au Port Peninsula
near the shores they docked the night before
the Luna pirates plotted and schemed
they worked many theories
utilizing maps, graphs and charts
until they had a solid plan to rescue Captain Bart


Luna sent two pirates to run intel
they waited for the longest, darkest hour
for seven pirates to climb the hill off the shore
reaching the barracks they silenced their swords
clasped tight to the thigh with their palms
low to the ground as they crawled on
hidden in the fauna and the mud

intel spoke of "many guards", Luna's insides fumed
spying enemy positions, she observed clashing news
scoping the small barracks from twenty meters
on the hill, Luna was curious about their leaders
she saw only one guard on watch, no naval Officers
Luna wondered, why aren't my other two suits back
"Pirates, move in!", she ordered the others to attack

seven of the new Luna crew stormed the field
marching quickly, quietly, toward the gate
each pirate persistent, refusing to yield
when a shout, "Halt there! One more step and I fire"
stopping herself and crew, before Luna replied
she positioned just herself near the barrack's side
saying, "sir, 'tis I, favouring air to the festivities inside
I've misplaced the door, could you act as my guide"

the guard hollered back "apologies, but I'm the Eye
and you mask your face, a wraith hidden in the night"
talented Luna, on the cusp of her plan succeeding
put on the act of a damsel, nearly started pleading
"how's a girl to be identified, preceding the warning
filled with lead if you take one step
meet me out here and you'll see that I'm no threat
I'm only here for the evening's event"

a counteroffer boomed out from the gate
"step to my gate, I'll send you on your way
get you back inside, if you are a name claimed"
six suits still waiting for direction
Luna raised her sword 3 inches from her scabbard
signaling to the others by moonlit reflection
'at attention' and 'beginning invasion'


sword and moon signals, mirrored on the fly
Luna and crew can always depend on the sky
flash bangs, fog, falling stars, changes in the land
train the eyes daily and well, keep the upper hand
hawk eyes spot the best intel, report it to the band
the suits took Luna's signals and readied for attack
Captain started up the side of the old stone barracks

veterans like Luna do not look at these as fights
known by reputation for her wild exploits
for instance, that gate guard, that poor boy
she crept up behind his jugular vein
stalking him, talking to him, throwing her voice
he never saw the bloodlust on her wicked little face
suits received the signal, moved in to take the gate


eyes of the jackdaw
a daw, woefully small
an outcast crow
plumage, dark and bold
revealing all a swords blows
while resting on the shoulder
of his pal, naval Captain Saul

Luna and her crew wait
they're huddled at the gate
plotting their next moves
they can't hesitate, with lives at stake
three, two, one, break
like an orchestrated play
the pirates took the stage

strategist Luna sent four 'round the side
ordered them to wait for the commotion
use the distraction, make a stealthy entrance
but ultimately, enter by any means necessary
get inside, find our three guys
save our suits, save the pirate Captain
we're low on ammo, headshots only

decided she'd enter through the main gate
she'd bring a ruckus and fight for her mates
with her four new recruits at the door creeping in
and three other suits in reserve swords in hand
listening for branches to break in the wind
perimeter handled by those three of her men
Luna carved a legacy in ice that day, forgotten by man

upon opening the gate, she realized she must be late
Luna was amazed to see an empty courtyard
further inspection revealed figures of apprehension
on the eastern wall she saw her five nervous mates
signaling the suits to her side
ordered them to go outside
"we're outnumbered and they're all inside"

a Captain of many moons, many tides
she's seen many good pirates die
Luna would avoid that at any cost tonight
this wasn't the suits fight
these were kids looking for fame
they were never real pirates to Luna
she never even gave them names

with all 7 of her suits safe on the perimeter
her mind was set on something sinister
a shout rang out but, as she explained
none of the suits came to her aid
just as expected a battalion of men
rushed from the inner barracks in the wrong direction
toward Luna's thrown voice, not seeing her gun

as she took the high ground from the tower above
picked off several, until ammo was low
an excellent marksman, but the rush has approached
with half gone she took to the rope
swung down to the ground to the enemies below
cutlass in hand to finish their crew
she did just that as the blood pooled over her boots

taking in the carnage for a minute
before heading for the mysteries waiting
Luna crossed the yard and peeked inside the building
leader of the Rainbow Pirates saw her chance
there was just one drunk old Captain with a crow
resting on his shoulder, guarding our cargo
she thought she'd throw her voice, kill the guy, and go

as soon as she could speak a word
with the help of that mystic bird
the Captain became wide awake and ready for a fight
in fact, the first word she uttered he threw a knife
Captain Saul's jackdaw calling all the shots
might as well give it the Cutlass
Saul was tossing back shots

nonetheless the battle felt never-ending
an epic fight, striking blows, crow revealing all
only way to separate the bird from Saul
was whistling the correct birdsong
when Luna finally figured out the proper notes
Captain Saul was run through, all were free to go
two business suit recruits and Captain Bart rescued