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Ahoy, me hearties! Pirates have long been a fascinating and romanticized subject in literature and pop culture.
The seafaring adventures of swashbuckling pirates have captured our imaginations and inspired countless stories, including poetry.
Pirate poems offer a unique way to hone your pirate speaking skills and immerse yourself in the language and culture of these seafaring rogues.
In this article, we will explore the many different types of poetries about pirates, from famous verses to humorous and rhyming ones, as well as those for both kids and adults.
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Famous Pirate Poems
From Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” to the works of Walter Scott, famous writers have long been drawn to the subject of pirates. These famous poems about pirate offer a glimpse into the world of piracy and the colorful characters that inhabit it.
1. The Swashbuckler
by Madison Cawein
Squat-nosed and broad, of big and pompous port;
A tavern visage, apoplexy haunts,
All pimple-puffed: the Falstaff-like resort
Of fat debauchery, whose veined cheek flaunts
A flabby purple: rusty-spurred he stands
In rakehell boots and belt, and hanger that
Claps when, with greasy gauntlets on his hands,
He swaggers past in cloak and slouch-plumed hat.
Aggression marches armies in his words;
And in his oaths great deeds ride cap-à-pie;
His looks, his gestures breathe the breath of swords;
And in his carriage camp all wars to be:—
With him of battles there shall be no lack
While buxom wenches are and stoops of sack.
2. The Pirate-Ship
by William Bingham Tappan
Midnight reigns;—on the ocean
Calmly sleeps the starry beam;
Steady is the barque’s proud motion,
Peaceful is the sailor’s dream.
Sailor, waken, death is near,
Waken from deceitful sleep;
Sailor, ere the dawn appear,
Thou shalt slumber in the deep.
Lightly on the riven wave,
Bounding swift, with murderous mein,
Ploughing o’er its victim’s grave,
Lo, the pirate-ship is seen.
Gorged from guilt’s infernal womb,
Lurk around the savage crew;
On each brow, the fiend of gloom
Stamps its seal, to horror true.
Luxury of crime is theirs,
Dead to feeling, as to fear;
Cruelty each bosom shares,
Banqueting on sorrow’s tear.
Gold their idol, to the god
Nightly, fearful orgies rise;
Rites accursed, steeped in blood,
Mark the human sacrifice.
Like a demon ripe from hell,
See the chieftain stalk apart;
Hark, his voice, ’tis misery’s knell,
Joy alone could writhe his heart.
Dear to him is childhood’s moan,
Female shrieks to him are bliss;
Mercy, canst thou rear thy throne
In a bosom seared like this?
Now with crime-accursed mirth,
Horrid laughter shakes the sky;
Drunk with blood, the stain of earth,
Join in fearful revelry.
Sailor, waken, death is near,
Waken from deceitful sleep;
Sailor, ere the dawn appear,
Thou shalt slumber in the deep.
3. The Captive Pirate
by Caroline Sheridan Norton
The captive pirate sat alone,
Musing over triumphs gone,
Gazing on the clear blue sky
From his dungeon window high.
Dreamingly he sate, and thought
Of battles he had seen and fought;
And fancy o’er him threw her spell.
He deemed he had not bid farewell
To the friends who loved him best:
O’er the white wave’s snowy crest
Seems he now once more to sail,
Borne by the triumphant gale:
Cheerily the light bark bounds,
In his ears the music sounds
Of hoarsely mingling waves and voices,
And his inmost soul rejoices!
He gives the signal of command,
He waves—he drops—the lifted hand!
It was a sound of clashing steel—
Why starts he thus? what doth he feel?
The clanking of his iron chain
Hath made him prisoner again!
He groans, as memory round him brings
The shades of half-forgotten things.
His friends! his faithful friends!—a sigh
Bursts from that bosom swelling high.
His bark! his gallant bark!—a tear
Darkens the eye that knew not fear.
And another meaner name
Must lead his men to death or fame!
And another form must stand
(Captain of his mourning band)
On the deck he trod so well,
While his bark o’er ocean’s swell
Is sailing far, far out at sea,
Where he never more may be!
Oh! to be away once more
From the dark and loathsome shore!
Oh! again the sound to hear
Of his ship’s crew’s hearty cheer!
Souls who by his side have stood,
Careless of their ebbing blood,
Wiped the death-dew from their brow,
And feebly smiled their truth to show!
Little does the Pirate deem
Freedom now were but a dream;
Little does the chieftain think
That his lost companions drink
Strugglingly by the salt sea wave,
Once their home, and now their grave!
And the bark from which they part,
(While his sad and heavy heart
Yearns to tread her gallant deck,)
Helpless lies, a heaving wreck!—
And little will they deem, who roam
Hereafter in their floating home,
While their sunlit sail is spread,
That it gleams above the dead—
That the faithless wave rolls on
Calmly, as they were not gone,
While its depths warm hearts doth cover,
Whose beatings were untimely over!
And little will they deem, who stand
Safe upon the sea-girt land,
That to the stranger all it gave
Was—a prison and a grave!
That the ruin’d fortress towers
Number’d his despairing hours,
And beneath their careless tread,
Sleeps—the broken-hearted dead!
4. I’m a Pirate
by Annette Wynne
I’m a pirate in the grass—
Hear ye people as ye pass;
I’m a pirate bad and bold,
Taking dandelion gold—
All my hands and ships can hold.
I’m a pirate—how the sun
Glitters on the gold I’ve won;
I shall buy you house and land
And a castle silver-grand
With the gold within my hand.
5. Pirate Story
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,
Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea.
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,
And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.
Where shall we adventure, to-day that we’re afloat,
Wary of the weather and steering by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,
To Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?
Hi! but here’s a squadron a-rowing on the sea—
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick, and we’ll escape them, they’re as mad as they can be,
The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.
Funny Pirate Poems
Pirate culture can be humorous and tongue-in-cheek, and interesting poems about pirates capture this lighthearted spirit. These poems often use puns and wordplay to evoke the playful nature of pirate speech.
1. Pirate Bay
by Anonymous
pirates fierce and mean
drowning fish, sea to sea
parrots on their butt
2. Polly Wants A Cracker
by Anonymous
bloodthirst & brutal
Quartermaster Gone Wild
dirty wings on deck
3. Sea World Adventure
by Anonymous
ship crew goes on strike
sailing the Caribbean
wooden leg splashing
4. The Pirate Captain
by Anonymous
A pirate captain yelling orders on deck,
Was bitten by his parrot on the neck,
His blood-curdling scream
Followed by a volley of blaspheme,
Caused him to be known as Captain Peck.
5. A Pirate
by Anonymous
There once was a pirate called Mangon
Who raped the High Seas with a fangen
But one night at Port
They captured the sport
Now crows rape his bones where he’s hangin’!
6. The Pirate Who Stole My Boat
by Anonymous
On the seas of turquoise green
A pirate ship approached
And stole my boat
All cargo was aboard
I was saddened at the loss that day
For the ship was a fine seaworthy vessel
I hope they take good care
Of both vessel and my wife
I shall miss them both
They been sailed many a year
Thank god I have insurance
For the vessel I held so dear
7. Pirate Tale
by Anonymous
To the ship they row
Pirates Pete and Bo
Sea prowess to show
Sailing!
Argh! They proudly crow
Greeting all they know
With a ‘Yo-ho-ho’
Hailing!
Sea terrors, heigh-ho!
Stolen treasures stow
Overboard men throw
Quailing!
Storm winds fiercely blow
Apprehensions grow
Enemy adds woe
Trailing…
Formidable foe
Tragic overthrow
Sad, their ship’s death-throe
Failing!
Sloshing to and fro
Amid undertow
Down and down they go
Flailing!
Out the waters flow
Bath-time over, so
Out the pirates go
Wailing!
8. Walk The Walk -Pirate Contest
by Anonymous
Argh! Matey, now it’s time for you
To take a little walk.
You see that plank, off of the side?
Now walk the walk you talk!
A pirate you have always been
And should have come to be
But, then you crossed the meanest one…
That pirate crossed, was me!
Now, step up to that plank out there.
You fate..awaits for you.
For when a pirate crosses me…
They walk that same plank too!
9. Barnaby The Pirate
by Anonymous
A mean peg legged pirate called Barnaby
Was once a great terror out on the sea
He robbed and left many dead
They put a price on his head
He was smart and always managed to flee
The navy got a new ship that was fast
Mean peg legged Barnaby’s luck did not last
Dreaded woodworm ate his peg
Tried to escape on one leg
Navy caught him and hung him from the mast.
10. She Pirate Thatch 3
by Anonymous
She had a map tattooed on her torso
Of places I’ve desired to go
North America looked fine
And Her Brazil was divine
But, Panama I liked even more so
11. Pirate Priorities
by Anonymous
There was an old pirate named Greg
Who found a big hole in his keg
With no time remaining
And rum quickly draining
He plugged it with his wooden leg
Now, normally Greg would not balk
But this placed a limp in his walk
Yet each one of his mates
Felt it planned by the fates
That both ship and captain … should rock.
12. Pirate Joe
by Anonymous
Pirate Joe was drinking rum from a keg
Fell overboard and a shark had his leg
They hauled him back in
And stopped the bleedin
And chippy fitted him with a wood peg.
Of good quality you could see the grain
Joe said ” it’s great to be walking again
But as time went by
Wood started to dry
And wet rot set in because of the rain.
One day his peg fell off with a loud thump
And now Joe has one good leg and a stump
But the story I’m told
He had one made of gold
Now he drags it with a hop, skip and jump…
13. Pirate Albert McSheel
by Anonymous
A ruthless pirate called Albert McSheel
Got caught and offered his captors a deal
A framed map of his treasure
His parrot for good measure
And a promise to never again steal.
A month later he was back on the sea
He had lied and was robbing ruthlessly
And while McSheel was asleep
Two hidden trackers did beep
A drone soon put an end to his crime spree.
14. Peg The Pirate
by Anonymous
I once knew a pirate named Meg
The poor girl had only one leg
So I carved a prosthetic
But it looked so pathetic
That everyone now calls her Peg
15. The Pirate
by Anonymous
Pirate Peter Pan flew over his ship
Among the stars and misty clouds
While Tinker Bell his mistress old
Sat on the deck sunning her skin
And when a ship was sighted afar
The lost boys sharpened their knives anew
He bound and gagged one and all
And made Wendy walk the plank
A terror on seas, but a jolly fellow
Having a harem of tender belles
For whom time and again he’d bellow
And when Captain Hook came to the rescue
Lazy Tinker Bell took him under her wing
He rode on the back of the wind
And high above the blue
This pirate of the Neverland sea
All so very long ago
16. Meat Pete The Pirate
by Anonymous
I once knew a pirate named Pete
There’s nothing that he wouldn’t eat
He once swallowed a whale
But then choked on the tail
And now he himself is dead meat
17. Pirate Tad
by Anonymous
There once was a pirate named Tad.
At looting he was pretty bad.
When his rowboat he sank,
they said, “Tad, walk the plank..
We’ve no use for the likes of ye, lad!”
18. Pirate Piercings On Sail
by Anonymous
I once knew a pirate name Geer
Thought that prices for piercings were dear
He argued a while
Then agreed with a smile
And said, “I’ll pay, buck-n-ear!”
19. A Pirate Named Fred
by Anonymous
There was a one-eyed pirate named Fred
Who wanted to reform and get wed
The wench who took his measure
Had got used to the treasure
So she shivered his timbers instead
20. A Pirate CV
by Anonymous
A man in a black patch is yar
And parrots make good mates by gar
With an optional hook
And a dastardly look
Any pirate is bound to go far
21. The Pirate Tucker
by Anonymous
A pirate I knew named Tucker
Was quite a gullible sucker
To mix rum with lime
I said would taste fine
He’s now just a drunken old pucker
22. How Old Is That Pirate
by Anonymous
Once upon a time a pirate limped by
“How old are you?”, I then asked with a sigh
What he said was good
But misunderstood
“Aye matey, you need not know!”, his reply
23. The Sweet Toothed Pirate
by Anonymous
I sail on an ocean of custard and jam
Aboard a ship made of biscuits and bread,
I am the sweet toothed pirate I am,
And clearly not right in the head.
Nebulous streams clouding my brain
Give me some peculiar thoughts,
I wear a vest made of liquorice sticks,
And a pair of marzipan shorts.
With my motley crew of gingerbread men
Who are armed to the teeth with balloons,
We go round the world kidnapping cakes,
While we gorge on sweet macaroons.
24. Piggly Wiggly Pirate Notion
by Anonymous
I had a dangerously daring piggily wiggly notion
To become a swashbuckler pirate and live in the ocean
Cut off my right leg, replaced it with a peg, hopped toward the sea.
Became a happy buccaneer, slashing other pirates right under the knee.
25. Pirate Thatch 2
by Anonymous
As I woke up this morning with her
I tried to recall what occurred
Although what lay on the floor
Was a patch nothing more
I could have swore, she was wearing a fur
26. She Pirate Thatch
by Anonymous
A one eyed pirate named Thatch
She couldn’t find clothes that would match
As she went through her closet
But found no composite
So, decided to wear just her patch
27. Pirate Queen Likes Anonymity
by Anonymous
Pirate Queen did not appreciate fame.
She did not like her notorious name.
She wanted to bed
Without having wed.
These days this was not an accepted game.
Short Pirate Poems
Sometimes, a few well-chosen words can capture the essence of pirate life. Short poetries about pirate offer a quick and easy way to evoke the spirit of adventure and danger that comes with being a pirate.
1. In The Sea of Tears
by Anonymous
In the sea of tears
A trawler full of fishes –
The pirates attack!
2. Barmaid
by Anonymous
she had long red hair,
a white blouse,all of which
made women the best pirates.
Pirate Poems That Rhyme
Rhyme can add a sense of musicality and structure to pirate poems, while also drawing attention to the words themselves. Poems about pirates with rhyme can create a sense of continuity and connection that can be captivating to readers of all ages.
1. If You’re A Pirate and You Know It
by Anonymous
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, then you’ll hear the sea winds blowin’.
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, walk the plank (stomp, stomp)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, look for treasures (look through spyglass)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, say ahoy Ahoy! (with arm movement)
2. 5 Pirates on A Treasure Chest
by Anonymous
5 pirates on a treasure chest
1 jumped off and 4 are left.
4 pirates on a treasure chest
1 slid off and 3 are left.
3 pirates on a treasure chest
1 fell down and 2 are left.
2 pirates on a treasure chest
1 was pushed off and 1 is left.
1 pirates on the treasure chest
he climbed down and then there were none.
No pirates on the treasure chest
Yo ho ho and now its all mine.
3. We’re Going on A Treasure Hunt
by Anonymous
We’re going on a treasure hunt.
We’re going on a treasure hunt.
Going to find a big one. I’m not scared.
Oh no! A cold, deep river!
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
Oh no! We must go through it.
Splish, splash. Splish, splash. Splish, splash.
We’re going on a treasure hunt.
We’re going on a treasure hunt.
Going to find a big one. I’m not scared.
Oh no! Quick Sand. A deep, quick sand patch!
We can’t go over it. We can’t go under it.
Oh no! We must go through it.
Grunt, swish. Grunt, swish. Grunt, swish.
We’re going on a treasure hunt.
We’re going on a treasure hunt.
Going to find a big one.
I’m not scared.
Oh no! A cave! A deep, dark cave!
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
Oh no! We must go through it.
Tip, toe. Tip, toe. Tip, toe.
One wooden leg.
One shiny hook.
Two beady eyes.
Oh no! It’s a pirate!
Quick! Back through the cave.
Tip, toe. Tip, toe. Tip, toe.
Back through the quick sand.
Grunt, swish. Grunt, swish. Grunt, swish.
Back through the river.
Splish, splash. Splish, splash. Splish, splash.
Get to the house.
Open the door.
Run up the stairs.
Oh no! Forgot to shut the door!
Back down the stairs.
Shut the door.
Back up the stairs.
Into bed.
Under the covers. (Sigh.)
We’re never going on a treasure hunt again.
Pirate Poems for Kids
Pirates are a favorite subject of children’s literature, and pirate poems are no exception. Pirate poems for children for kids offer a way to introduce young readers to the excitement and adventure of the high seas, while also instilling a love of poetry.
1. Captain
by Paul Perro
There’s Long John Silver, Captain Hook,
And Captain Jack Sparrow,
But these pirates are just made up,
They are not real you know!
There were a lot of real pirates
Attacking ships at sea,
We’ll learn about them in this poem,
So let’s read on, shall we?
2. Blackbeard
by Paul Perro
His name was really Edward Teach
But folks called him “Blackbeard”.
He captained “The Queen Anne’s Revenge”
And he was greatly feared.
To make himself look scary
He tied plaits in his hair,
So from a distance it looked like
Some snakes were living there.
3. Nicholas Brown
by Paul Perro
Pirate Nicholas Brown was caught
And threatened with the chop,
But he was given one last chance
Because he said he’d stop.
But he went back to his old ways,
Went back to being a pirate.
I guess he had a stubborn streak,
Perhaps we should admire it?
And one day, Brown was caught again
This time it was the end.
Yes, caught and killed by John Drudge, who
Once used to be his friend.
4. Black Bart
by Paul Perro
Captain Bartholemew Roberts
(Also known as “Black Bart”)
Was very good at piracy
He’d made it a fine art.
He did not drink a lot of rum,
Preferring to drink tea.
Perhaps the reason he did well
Was his sobriety.
5. Captain Morgan
by Paul Perro
Sir Henry Morgan wasn’t the
Greatest pirate ever.
One time he crashed his ship on rocks,
Which wasn’t very clever.
6. Francis Drake
by Paul Perro
To English folk, Sir Francis Drake’s
A hero, brave and bold.
But Spaniards call him “pirate” –
A thief who stole their gold.
Anne Bonney and Mary Read
Not all pirates were men you know,
There were some women too –
Like Anne Bonney and Mary Read,
Who were in the same crew.
Sometimes history books tell us that
Women were soft back then,
But Anne Bonney and Mary Read
Were tougher than the men.
Other famous pirates
Many other famous pirates
Sailed the seven seas,
Like the pirate Coxinga who
Was actually Chinese.
There was William Kidd, John Ward,
Edward England, Ned Low,
The two Barbarossa brothers,
And Spaniard Juan Corso.
And there were many many more,
Too many to tell you.
And so, me hearties, now’s the end,
Avast ye, and heave to.
Treasure and Pirate Poems
For many, the appeal of pirates lies in the promise of hidden treasure and adventure. Poems about pirates and treasure offer a way to explore the lure of buried treasure and the thrill of the hunt.
1. The Pirate’s Treasure
By Anonymous
The Pirate’s lost his treasure chest
And now he wants it back.
It’s filled with gold and goblets
Glittering, and sparkling orbs
From world’s every corners.
But these aren’t the things he seeks.
He’s been from land to land
On boat built from wood not
Quite secure enough to carry
Him through, but he made the
Most of what he had; his ship
Repaired, he sails once more.
In irons, he’s caught, his crew
Is hung; the Crows, they laugh
At their corpses. “No hope for
Sinners” in this land, but still
He tries to fight and repent
Until his breath is spent.
He’ll fight through storms and
Lands and men and armies
And whatever may lie ahead
Between him and the treasure
Buried under useless trinkets
And shiny, shimmering toys.
His chest has sunk and sinks
Still; he has a long way to swim.
But he’s taken one breath of air
And that’s all he needs; no need
To resurface, that’s wasted life
As clocks just tick on by.
His lungs scream, his vision blurred
But hand is stretched and stretching
Further; fingertips pinch and slip
And miss and–at last! The treasure
Is in his hands once more; he clutches
Tightly and swims to shore.
Bastard, rotting, miserable Pirate,
Redeemed by all he’s fought through,
Let’s go of the material to the paper
Stored, safe, in the bottom of the chest.
On it, in writing clear, is his most
Treasured of all possessions;
The name of his beloved, returned to him at last.
Final Thoughts
In exploring the world of pirate poetry, we embark on a thrilling adventure that takes us through the high seas and into the heart of pirate culture.
From short and sweet verses to longer explorations of pirate life, there is a pirate poem for every mood and occasion.
Whether we seek to hone our pirate speaking skills, connect with the humor and playfulness of pirate culture, or explore the rich history and romance of the pirate world, pirate poems offer a unique and captivating way to do so.
Through the power of poetry, we can immerse ourselves in the spirit of adventure and danger that defines the world of piracy, and connect with the enduring allure of these seafaring rogues.
Which one of these poems for pirates did you enjoy the most?
