Flying Dutchman Poem by Colin Ian Jeffery

(In the winter of 641 the merchant ship ‘Dutchman' sailed
into legend becoming a notorious ghost ship sailing until
doomsday)

Sailing back to Europe
Captain Hendrick Van der Decken
Reached the Cape of Good Hope
As a savage storm blew-up
Howling, raging, battering the ship.

Terrified crew pleaded fearing death
For ship to turn back for a safe harbour
But the captain refused being obstinate
Declaring he would sail on through the storm
That was treacherous and life threatening.

Thinking he was insane
Crew mutinied to take over the ship
The captain shot the leader of the mutineers
And has the body thrown overboard
Saying he would sail around the Cape.

Nothing would stop him he declared
Not even if he should sail until doomsday.
The Devil heard his boastful words
And so began an eternal sailing
The ship manned by lost tormented souls.

Sightings are made of the ghost ship
With sails set with rigging bathed in orange glow
Emerging from a swirling mist to vanish
And sailors seeing the ghost ship
Know the sighting means death for them.