Ten Pirates

by kiwisteveh

Ten pirates sailed the Spanish main,
They braved the foamy brine;
On jagged rocks one ship was wrecked -
Now there were only nine.

The skull and crossbones nine did fly
In search of treasure great,
But in a typhoon one was lost -
And that left merely eight.

Eight pirates sailed the ocean deep;
"Oh, Yo Ho Ho!" they'd cry,
But one was cast adrift and so
Just seven waved goodbye.

For seven pirates life was grand,
Each wore a captain's coat;
Till one was made to walk the plank -
Now six were left afloat.

Six pirates left - one found a map,
Towards the gold he steered.
Alas, his map was upside-down -
He simply disappeared.

I hope you're counting - that leaves five,
A parrot on each shoulder,
Till one retired (and Polly too)
Before he grew much older.

Four pirates all drank too much rum,
Now here's the mystery...
Just how did one fall overboard?
For that left only three.

Three pirates fought a battle
With the forces of the Queen,
Where one was captured, two were left
Who fled that war-like scene.

Two pirates now - one raised his 'scope
Up to his black-patched eye;
He didn't see the rocks ahead
His ship ran high and dry.

One pirate sailed the seven seas;
Just one, there were no others.
He sang a lonely pirate song
To mourn his nine lost brothers.

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Recognized

I loved Brooke's counting poems - always lots of fun. On several occasions I told her I would like to try one and she suggested pirates as a suitable theme.

I didn't know this would be so hard - not easy finding fresh and original ways to bump off nine pirates and keep it appropriate for young kids.

Here it is at last, Brooke.

PS There can't really be 10,000 poems in her book, can there?

Pays one point and 2 member cents.

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A children's counting poem

A chapter in the book Get Well, Brooke!

Ten Pirates

by kiwisteveh

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