I thrive upon the open water. With freedom and fury, the violence inside me unleashed. Sword and pistol held steady. Stealing treasures of gold and those of blood. I fight with lethal force, kill without mercy.
Yet I ask mercy for the parasite in my belly. Fools give it. And I live. The child won’t.
After birth, I return to sea without regret.
A different name. They still know me. Breasts I will not hide, hair like flame. They respect me. Fear me. Know they will wake with an axe in their drunken skull should they cross me.
I decided to re-post my pirate flash this week for the Carrot Ranch challenge of the importance of a name.
After her capture, Anne Bonny returned to piracy (although there are accounts of her settling down, marrying, and having children). Either way, she is said to have changed her name. Between first and last names, this woman had a trunk full of identities. Changed for numerous reasons (hiding gender, nicknames, hiding heritage, marriages, hiding from the law…), the famous pirate (Andy McCormac, Anne McCormac, Anne Cormac, Anney, Anne Boone, Bonney, Anabel, Anabelle…but mostly recognized as Anne Bonny) was well-known during her lifetime and remains notorious regardless of what she was called.
Sometimes power is in the name. Sometimes power is in the person without one.
Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch
December 15, 2016 prompt: Names In 99 words (no more, no less) explore the importance of a name within a story. It can be naming an experience, introducing an extraordinary name, or clarifying a name.
Lemon Shark Reef 
I never tire of reading your stories of the red-haired pirate Anne Bonny, bad though she be. What a great example of name changing for a multitude of purposes. “parasite in the belly”! Those are mean fighting words and an interesting name (label) for an unwanted baby. Great flash!
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I really need to develop her into a short story or pulp novella or something. Although she has such a colorful history, I’m not sure how I’d do that. It would be interesting… 🙂 Thanks, Norah!
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It would! You’ve given yourself some great suggestions!
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Oh, yes! I love this flash and how it clarifies her inner strength to defy the norms. “Sometimes power is in the name. Sometimes power is in the person without one.” She used her name as it suited her situation. Such a fascinating historical person to develop a character from!
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Yes, I was thinking on some ideas but this one kept screaming at me. I know she had many names throughout her life but also that she was known regardless of what she was called at the time. Kind of flipped the the power of a name on its head. Had to use it!
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I love the historical account as well as your flash Sarah…whatever her name, your pirate Anne is a woman to be reckoned with! Great writing as always 🙂 ❤
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“Breasts I will not hide,” — what great way to say not afraid to be a woman.
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