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THE DESTRUCTION OF PORT ROYAL
.THE DESTRUCTION OF PORT ROYAL
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Edit PoemRemove poem from weekly contestDelete PoemThis poem expires from weekly contest on: March 14, 2010
6 days 23 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds
Tags: Life, Loss
Poem Rating: 0.0
Poem ID: 116330
Poem Link:
cousinsoren
Poem Commentary
Port Royal ,in Jamaica, up to the timeo of its destruction by a massive earthquake on Tuesday, June 7, 1692 , was the most flourishing city iin the Caibbean. The bell mentioned in this poem was the only bell in the town. It belonged to the magnificent Si. Paul's Church, the only chcurch in the town. Louis Galdy was swallowed by the heaving ground, then spat out on dry land. There were 8,000 people in the city at the time. More than 2000 peopel perished More than four-fifths of the ciity sank. When Henry Morgan, the infamous buccaneer, made it his headuarters, Port Royal became the wickedest place on earth. Mr. Robert Marx. a marine archaeologist, mentioned on the poem as Max, iis exploring the submerged city.
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Update PictureTHE DESTRUCTION OF PORT ROYAL
THE DESTUCTION OF PORT ROYAL
There was a low rumble and a louder grumble,
Then objects began to fall.
“Earthquake!” the terrified rabble shrieked.
They ran out onto the streets
From homes, lewd houses and taverns
Like disturbed hives of buzzing bees,
The earth opened, buckled and twisted in tumult,
Rumbled and roared like a run-away train.
Roofs and trees came crashing down,
Ran ran ran people did run,
But there was no place to hide.
“Lord save us!” they screamed,
Some for the first time were praying.
Port Royal, Port Royal,
History tells your story still
Of the infamy of your youthful days.
The stories of horrors curl my hair;
Such tales of cruelties chill my bones
How could men so callously hard,
Such deeds they casually perpetrate?
All for greed gold and silver plate.
They strove so many and blood shed.
They seized ships in savage fight,
Forced the hapless to walk the plank.
But then they clung to the riggings of their ships,
Like drowning rats to the bottom they sank.
Forgetting guns and swords and pillage of gold,
Into the same darkness they slipped
Where they had sent their victims on before.
Lazy shoals of coloured little fish
Curiously swim in and out their empty skulls.
Where do their spirits sleep or roam?
There is deep water everywhere.
And ships laden with curs-ed booty
Lay in the depths for evermore.
Henry Morgan’s pride, buccaneers’ lair.
Half of the city from earth was gone.
The wickedest city on earth was toppled,
Toppled with its brick walls fell.
The church bell mysteriously tolled,
Though the priest and the sexton were dead.
Great was the awesome sound,
When the angry sea broke its bonds,
And frightfully raped the town.
Ran ran ran the people did run,
“O God, save us!” they cried,
But there was no place to hide.
They who ruled land and sea like little gods.
Shall we mourn them or not?
The blood of others they have shed,
Without justification nor conscience.
They played the hero and the knave,
They were destined for a watery grave.
Like Jonah fromthe belly of a whale.
Lewis Galdy was spat out of earth to tell the tale.
Now we view the relics of Nature’s angry act.,
That the depths of ocean unwillingly gave to Marx
Of Port Royal. Oh, Port Royal,
Half of her within her watery grave!
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