The Mayflower
by Linda A. Copp

"The Mayflower," a sturdy, 
little, merchant ship
 set sail in 1620
  on a great, big trip.

Leaving Plymouth England,
on the sixteenth day,
in the middle of September,
it just sailed away!

Swish, swash across the Atlantic Ocean,
bobbing, rocking, rolling
to its frantic motions
skimming, splashing, sailing on through the waves,
On and on she bounced
and floated, over many days!

Filled to the brim with Pilgrims,
now on their way,
to start a new life in Virginia,
a half a world away,

Where they could worship freely in their new colony

and escape King James the First's religious tyranny!

And so ...

 Splish, splash, across the Atlantic Ocean,
tossing, heaving, swirling and in constant motion
battered upon but pushing on its cresting waves,
the Mayflower's voyage lasted 66 days!

On November 21, they spotted land
but, were nowhere near Virginia,
as they had planned!

Instead ...

Sailing into the harbor
of the land that would become
Province Town,
they came to 'Cap-Codd',
and laid their anchor down!

Yet, they were still not idle,
after their lengthy trip,
writing the "The Mayflower Compact",
while still aboard their ship.
On November 21, 1620,
this document of laws
to govern their new colony
became the first governing agreement ever to be
written in America, though still at sea!

Then one month later,
to the very day,
having sailed across ,
the waters of Cape Cod Bay,
they finally stopped
at the place they'd stay!

On December 21, 1620 the Mayflower docked.
And 'The Pilgrims' stepped on to Plymouth Rock!

Founding the "Plymouth Colony"
where one year later,
it came to be.

They and their Native American friends,
in peace and harmony,
shared corn, gave thanks
and ate turkey!
Making their "Thanksgiving Feast"
a part of history!

by Linda A. Copp
November 3, 2001