The Shrieking Woman At Marblehead

Category: Poetry
'Twas a Spanish galleon sailed the seas, -
Two centuries since have rolled -
Laden with silver and gems to please
Gay dames and gallants bold.

But villainous pirates seized the ship
As homeward she was bound;
Ah, she has made her last long trip
For they ran her soon aground.

From Oakum Bay into Marblehead
They brought one lady fair, -
Her husband, alas, and his crew are dead,
And her they will not spare.

Loud, loud she shrieked in the pirates' arms,
"Oh, save me - Jesu, save!"
Cruel echo mocked at her wild alarms,
As they dug her a nameless grave.

Yet once a year when the night has come
That saw her dreadful death,
You can hear her above the ocean's boom
Shriek out with her dying breath.

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English (Original)