Alchemisland

Planks come loose from the trireme’s flank

Like a flooded arena on the Emperor’s birth night

Flaming men jump over the side and into the sea

Bodies which sank the same regardless of rank

Are set upon by shank-jawed blood magnets

Magnates of the brine planet, baleful magistrates

Whose every gavel check is a pronouncement of death

In the breathless realm, lacking tank or helmet

Eyes wide, frenziedly jerking against imminent death

Hammerhead like a leather death scythe, fin breaching the tide

Begins to spiral around, not attempting to hide its intention

In the hunting ground, the still living pray the drowned get ingested

The freezing, gelid waters are infested with maneater sharks

A single snap of whose jaws splits a man in half

Flesh to those dentures is like melted butter

It tears away easily, wet paper under cutter

Sign must be up today

Ocean a shark tank, all you can eat buffet 

Thought your moving legs were seal fillets

A place among the seaweed and plaice

A place not made for the human race

Raised in brine, looking back brings bad taste

Memory erased by a shot to the face

Musket at close range lays waste

But reloading it takes an age

Shoot it once then throw it away

Out your sword and shout hooray

Swinging on the lines like a monkey

From a great height, aim a musket

Shoot and do not flub it

Blame none if you miss.