Black Pearl Tales

a *The Measure of a Man* Written for the Poetry Drabble Challenge in April 2005 *by Jack E.* April 15, 2005

a
	Will	Both	Jack

aaa	The course I've had to take with you Has been far less than pleasant. You're a pirate with no regard for rules. An' yer a hen-pecked peasant. Spineless cheating dastard. Bloody stupid cad. Manipulative lying-- Eunuch! Heh, you bes' watch yer mouth lad. You cannot interrupt me ingrate! You disrupt the pattern of the rhyme. So? I'm bloody bamboozlin' pirate. Your kind doesn't/don't mix with mine. You yer 'ead not yer 'eart- you whelp. Same to you, seditious hypocrite! Yer too moral an' honest to be of 'elp. And it's easy to trust a well-known convict? But as long as my body draws its breath, I'll deal with you, yeh bloody churl; I must endeavor to save Elizabeth. So long as it brings back my Black Pearl. My world starts and ends with her-- That's something you couldn't possibly comprehend. Jack: Oh, but to tha'-- I must answer-- I grasp far more than you apprehend. I've seen it in the way yeh look at 'er. I've heard it in your voice. An' though I didn't ask fer things t'go this way, I was offered little choice. I won't question what I'm doing. 'cause that freedom I've worked so hard for, When I look at the ocean never-ending, Suddenly that don' seem so important no more. I'll shake yer hand an' summon toleration, A temporary turce between you and me. So I can close up a vast separation, And let our only hurdle be the sea. The sea is wide, vast and as empty as the world, An' you can take it, have it all, an' ne'er it lend. But all of the sudden it seems as empty as you behold. And then you realize. What good is a world without end? I think I'm learning something new-- Something I never realized before. If you look past a man's outer view You'll see they're something more. Perhaps you live an impulsive game, An' maybe yer virtuous to no end. But, in hearts, we are very much the same And perchance I can call you my friend. I told yeh once that only one thing matters: What a man can and can't do. But as my world has dashed to shatters, I've found that it isn't true. A man can do whate'er he wants to. S'like a personal banner unfurled. But it's what he will and what he won't do; Aye, That's all the difference in the world. I just wish that things were less complicated, That things hadn't turned out so bad. Well, more than once s'been indicated: Few things in life are simple, lad. True strength is knowin' how to make The complicated parts easy to understand. So there's only one truth to life I'll take: A man can only do what he can. And these are the things that define him. Not wealth, reputation or the worth of his father. Whether he does good, bad or nothin'; It distinguishes him from his brother. A man is measured by the time he's given An' what he's done with that lifespan-- What he does when all's forgiven-- Aye, that's the measure of a man. A man is measured by the time he's given And what he's done with it-- whate'er he can-- So when I look at you and by what you're driven, I'm glad I see the measure of a good man. ~.~ All our authors thrive on feedback. Email the Webmaster to have comments forwarded to the author. Back to Poetry Menu