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We’ll leave the sheltered English shores behind –
Thatched roofs, warm hearths, the might of Good Queen Bess.
We’ll ride three corks upon a pond of brine,
Like pawns that inch forth in a game of chess.
Our living friends we’ll leave behind in tombs;
We’ll brave the tempests on the troubled sea,
Endure close quarters like twins in a womb
To travel to a land we cannot see.
At last, when she appears, we’ll give a shout! –
And on our sea legs wobble to the shore.
We’ll claim, midst all the dangers there about,
This land for Bess and Britain evermore.
We’ll take a cherished flag and raise it there
And call the enterprise Virginia Dare!
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© Dennis Allen Lange and thebardonthehill.wordpress.com, 2017.
The Bard on the Hill 
I’ve always been fascinated by the Roanoke Island story. I haven’t read this sonnet before. Thanks for sharing it!
Yes, what happened at Roanoake Island is a great mystery that still intrigues us. You haven’t read the sonnet before because it’s mine and I just posted it today for people to read for the first time. 🙂
Now, I feel really stupid!! Good job!
Since I post a mixture of other poets’ poems and mine, it’s easy to get overlook the source at times. What’s really bad is when I’m about to post someone else’s poem and I put in the title “by Dennis Lange”. I’ve done that a couple of times and caught it. Hope I’ve not ever done it and NOT caught it. 🙂
Well written bard.
Thank you, sir.