Davey Jones

sails torn by shrapnel, she groans as she turns
hell below decks as the gun powder burns
smoke blinding eyes, hiding old skull and bones
no longer jolly, is our Davey Jones

gone are the days of the main Spanish threat
vanquished by speed, by the British corvette
galleons, heavy with wine and with loot
tortured by ships that are faster afoot

here goes the mast, Massachusetts' best pine
so much for racing the ships of the line
is this the end, he is forced to admit
Davey is staring at certain defeat

suddenly, as if by Neptune's decree
monstrous tentacles rise from the sea
terrible screams as the water does churn
ships torn asunder from bow to the stern

and sink below, to their watery graves
the smoke clears at last, Jolly Roger yet waves
proud as its ever been, old Skull and Bones
serving its master, the feared Davey Jones

Author notes: Image from Nerdist https://allpoetry.com/contest/2784707-Old-century-Ships-Gentleman-only