George was a pirate, but he wasn’t a very good pirate.
He has no gravesite.
No, he wasn’t buried at sea.
His body was burned, and the ashes scattered.
That way, there would not be a grave for his followers to revere.
Over the years, many memorials to George have been built.
Piles of flowers, greeting cards, and stuffed teddy bears.
Cheap candles in cheap tin holders.
And the authorities have torn them all down.
Shadowy figures meet in dark alleys.
Exchanging secret handshakes, speaking secret passwords.
They whisper praise to George.
The pirate, who wasn’t a very good pirate.