A British frigate of 24 guns <br />Three-masted, shipped rigged <br />Crews-of-fiction, pressed-ganged <br />Captain Bligh commanded. <br /> <br />November of 1790, Portsmouth sailed <br />Sent out by the British Admiralty <br />Steered a direct course to Otaheite <br />In order to capture the Bounty mutineers. <br /> <br />Pure conjecture as-to where Christian’s crew rendezvoused <br />March of 1791, the Pandora arrived at Tahiti <br />Bligh – eighteen officers and seaman stood by him <br />Captured 14 – shackled in chains, the ‘Box’ awaited them. <br /> <br />From a deck cell, the Bounty crewmen cried farewell <br />To their wives and children on Tahiti <br />One consort gashed her scalp in grief <br />May of 1791, the Pandora sailed with prisoners manacled. <br /> <br />August of 1791, the Pandora through darkening waters slid <br />Struck submerged coral – began to take on seawater <br />Prisoners begged to be freed – most were unbolted <br />Pandora’s crew (most) and mutineers were eventually rescued. <br /> <br />Of the 10 surviving prisoners,7 were acquitted <br />3 others were yardarmed – had been convicted <br />Bligh was never court-martialed – rear admiral was appointed <br />“I am now in a part of the world I never expected.” <br /> <br />'2007'<br /><br />Robert Sheridan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/pandora-s-box-8/
