He sat in the strangest places,
always at the back
of the mahogany slide,
floated in the nicotine-cloud,
wore permanent shades
to hide his killer disease.

One look from him
could rip testicles off,
he foamed at the mouth,
sinned constantly
& sported scars
like racetracks
on his fractured arms.

Gold doubloons filled
the holes
in his rotten
teeth,
he seethed.

Only the fools
made him smile,
& they saw their end
come sooner
than they wanted,
'cause he loved
a great death.