'Tis the year of my lord - 1855
I've been drifting on this raft for 10 days 
Though parched and sun burnt
'Tis a miracle I am still alive .....

My name is Bartholomew Daniel
The only survivor of His Majesty's ship Pinta
And an officer of the first fleet
I have with me Joshua Edmonds - the ship's cook
But alas ..... he lies dead at my feet

We were hit by a storm
A raging inferno
All the men fought valiantly to survive
But we were taking in water down below
And the ship listed badly to the side
A giant wave crashed onto the her deck
'Tis when most of the poor blighters died

They were washed into the roiling angry sea
And I could hear their desperate cries!
I could barely hang on to the sinking deck
I only just managed to drag Mr Edmonds in
But I couldn't save them all
As much as I tried!

Now I lay here writing this last testament
And I hope that one day it will be found
This parchment is all I could save from the ship
'Tis the map of the new land we discovered
Only two days before the ship went down

I'm writing around the edges
With a hand that I can barely control
I send my love to my dear wife
And my darling sweet daughter Ariole
Know that I have always loved you
And if I don't survive this plight I am in
I will hang on 'til my very last breath
To see you again is my only wish
My strength at last has been put to the test
I dare not close my eyes to rest
But know that I fought to the last
And I will not give in!

My eyes blur and no more can I write
Who ever finds this pass it onto my wife
She can be found in the county of Carrington Place
And now I sign off and will pray to God's grace
That soon a ship will find me
And from this torturous nightmare 
I will be free.

©Janine Daniel