Poetry Sunday

This past week saw the death of one of my favorite musicians - Jimmy Buffett. He had a wonderful way with lyrics and melodies, and more of his songs are on my "favorites" playlist than those of any other performer. For this week's Poetry Sunday, I want to say goodbye to Jimmy with the lyrics of one of his most popular and meaningful songs ...

A Pirate Looks at Forty

Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call

Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall

You've seen it all, you've seen it all

Watched the men who rode you, switch from sails to steam

And in your belly, you hold the treasures few have ever seen

Most of 'em dream, most of 'em dream

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late

The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin' to plunder

I'm an over-forty victim of fate

Arriving too late, arriving too late

I've done a bit of smugglin', and I've run my share of grass

I made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast

Never meant to last, never meant to last

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

But I got to stop wishin', got to go fishin'

Down to rock bottom again

Just a few friends, just a few friends

I go for younger women, lived with several a while

Though I ran 'em away, they'd come back one day

Still could manage to smile

Just takes a while, just takes a while

Mother, mother ocean, after all the years I've found

My occupational hazard being my occupation's just not around

I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown

I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown

It's a great song with a great melody, but the older I get, the more this particular verse speaks to me:

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late

The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin' to plunder

I'm an over-forty victim of fate

Arriving too late

I'm now an over-seventy victim of fate, wondering where the joys of my youth have gone and doing my best to enjoy the pleasures of rapidly advancing old age: grandchildren, retirement, gardening, and the Jimmy Buffett music that never gets old. Rest well, Jimmy ... hope you're enjoying that beach house on the moon.

Have a good day and enjoy the rest of your weekend. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo