Letters Of Marque

That is ‘privateers’
In other words
Pirates
Sanctioned by
Governments to
Raid and capture, or
Sink enemy
Commercial entities
Ships, stores, and such
Their frequent symbol
The Jolly Roger
Crossed bones with
A grinning skull atop

Even though letters of marque
Officially faded away
In the mid nineteenth century
Modern ‘privateers’
That is pirates
Still ply their trade
But they are now called
Hedge fund managers

I’m waiting for them
To use the traditional symbol
With the skull grinning
Back at you…

–LE – 7/28/25