Tag: naval warfare
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And out come the sharks
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…
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Desertion Before Actium
Elven lemon sky Ionian Sea Roman killing Roman, Juno’s griefful heaving stirred seas Flux disease and desertion distilled Antony’s ranks to truest champions Still they reckoned a reckonable force Skipper swearing fingers to his lips whffffphhhs signalling swift ship’s arrival Assuring no rival lyingly flies friendly flags, wolf in sheepen rag Long boathook like snake-choking…
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Ancient Naval Warfare
Bound for Actium Tri and quadriremes tarry Mare Nostrum Corvus to aid boarding Bore-imploring missiles shot score-by Gore-hot decks decorate the struck Separated skin unable to suck back leaking ichor Bough-bursting ballista bolts in storage.
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Smashed at Actium
Gold much in Egypt Gods older than the foam which drank Atlantis Arch fantasist whose phantom hand called up every flower He toward whom all followers tend eventually Ear lender whose housing lobes empathic eternal paternal tenderness At disposal every power, every rotad hour known to he Oldest When ceaseless cleansing rains started, the heart…