The Pirate Doctor

The pirates' doctor lay on his bunk, by the tools of his trade, in an old trunk. No dreams filled his head but the next shot of rum, as the ship's sails pulled taut and began to hum. Doc was all they called him, only Mad Jack knew his name, and no one dared to ask him from where it was he came. He wasn't able bodied, forever pale and sick, tho' if the rum keg was empty he'd give it a kick. Mad Jack found him in Calais, crying in his beer, sat right down beside him, cried: "Another round of cheer." Doc said: "The king appointed me to care for his sick son, tho' for all my worldly knowledge nothing could be done." King Louis said: "You've failed me, the Dauphin now is dead, if you don't leave the country, I'll guillotine your head." Cap'n said: "Come hide with me, we'll sail the bounding main." Then the two slithered out 'neath the cover of blinding rain. Doc was very useful on that first trip out, he'd fixed the Bosun's leg and the Captains gout. On the Doc's paternal care you always could depend, through thick and thin he stay'd, 'cause he was Mad Jack's friend. Mr. Bones stopped there and put down his pipe, the pub crowd so quiet you could hear a snipe. "Just a story I heard from my father the lawyer, didn't like him much though since he had me named Sawyer." Written January 2nd, 2002 © on Jan 02 2002 03:33 AM PST   0 • 10