setting sail again far from the pirate pain i'll dig up my treasure at my leisure main sail hoisted for 'nor, by 'nor west hope my buccaneer babel passes her hospital test she isn't exactly cloisted and isn't hooked up to a hospital drip cable
the vicious pirates of the world work in the city where big business ain't too pretty around their fingers the world economy is twirled and the stench of their six hundred pounds aftershave lingers
society ain't for me i want to sail the seventh sea what be over the horizon? i have to see hope it isn't a chalice of poison.
" big business...time for a shake up " - big business - talking heads.
This isn't exactly a pirate story, but it's on my mind, and it does involve a kidnapping...does that count? This is my retelling of a 14th Century romance, "William and the Werewolf," taken from a prose translation of the original middle English. This is the beginning - I have no idea whether I'll ever finish it.
WILLEM AND THE WEREWOLF
No virtue lies in hiding truth from light, What is, what was, shall nevermore be buried, So I reveal this story of the plight Of babe, of beast, of regal parents worried, Unearthly creature rising out of night, The jaws that snap and seize, the infant carried Into the ocean dark, a surf-foamed brew That few survive: and every word is true.
In beautiful Apulia, by a hill, There lived a king, a queen, their infant son— The brother of the king was heir, until The newborn babe became the chosen one. The jealous brother then resolved to kill The new anointed prince. His plot was spun, The poison set in place. But as he reached His hand to do the deed, a courtier screeched
And ran in terror. An enormous hound, Or wolf, with fiery eyes and razor claws Had cleared the palace wall with one great bound, Had seized the infant princeling in its jaws Then slashed the evil brother to the ground, And turning once, then twice, without a pause. Pursued by knights and horses, serfs and knaves, It reached the ocean, plunged into the waves.
i was always scared of werewolves when i was a kid tad. though i would let my puppy rip me to shreds if she felt like it. heeyyy i dated an unearthly creature that rose up in the night...she was called marie - nice imaginative poem - paul.
I am going to try to do this one. I have an idea in my head but the chemo hit me harder than expected and I just can't seem to get it together right now.
Sadie the Goat sailed the Hudson River a pirate of great renown. She earned her name, being a giver of head butts to take her prey down.
Then one day she fought with Gallus Mag who bit off Sadie's ear. So she stole a sloop after hitting that snag, and became a pirate to fear.
She raided farmhouses, mansions too, along the Hudson and Harlem. Making a fortune for herself and her crew till the land-folk began to shoot them.
So, Sadie the Goat returned to the mainland, and made peace with Gallus Mag, who returned her ear which had been canned and pickled to show and to brag.
Now known as "Queen of the Waterfront," in a locket the ear would stay which she wore for show, or maybe a stunt, around her neck for the rest of her days.
this is about a woman who is a bigger pirate than i'll ever be.
SINKING SLOWLY
she was my treasure when she left i was bereft lost everything that gave me pleasure
cold nights in my cabin my hot tears gently dabbing she took my pirate gold a lost lamb, who long ago left the fold after five months all she said was " no "
she was a pirate herself never worked a day in her life let everybody else do the trouble and strife while she amassed the wealth
never saw her buy her own flagon of grog spent my doubloons and left me sinking in a bog hauled out by a lady that could see the real me and a couple of hope balloons.
Well told taleand one to advise caution. You're too young to remember a song--Bonnie might, that began, "she had a dark and a roving eye, and her hair hung down in Ringlets,"
thanks tash. can't place that song. it's gonna bug me till i find it now. don't know if you know the song by e.l.o. that goes " she was a devil woman, with evil on her mind " uh - hu! - love - paul.
Alas me mateys of days long gone when Cap'n Crunch gave us such pleasure when we got to the bottom of the box there was always a toy treasure.
To get children to buy their brand they weren't alone in this little ploy Cheerios, Pebbles, Sugar Crisp and others tried offer the most awesome toy.
of course we all remember the treasure at the bottom of the cracker jack box you never knew what you would find a magic ring or maybe pet rocks.
But for some reason quite unknown that practice stopped so long ago simple pleasures like hidden treasures are something our young ones will never know.
"I know you're looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks But there ain't no Coup de Ville hiding at the bottom Of a Cracker Jack box" - Meatloaf
yeah. whatever happened to that? i used to dig through boxes of cornflakes to get the toy soldier, or football card at the bottom. now it's just crumbs. nice take on the promt bonita - love - paul.
WHERE BE MY TREASURE!
ReplyDeletesetting sail again
far from the pirate pain
i'll dig up my treasure at my leisure
main sail hoisted
for 'nor, by 'nor west
hope my buccaneer babel
passes her hospital test
she isn't exactly cloisted
and isn't hooked up to a hospital drip cable
the vicious pirates of the world
work in the city
where big business ain't too pretty
around their fingers
the world economy is twirled
and the stench of their six hundred pounds aftershave lingers
society ain't for me
i want to sail the seventh sea
what be over the horizon?
i have to see
hope it isn't a chalice of poison.
" big business...time for a shake up " - big business - talking heads.
hey matey and a fine pirate poem ye have given us. the seas await thee ye scurvy sea wolf.
Deletebuckling my swash as we speak ( whatever that means ha ha ). how be my salty sea wench today? - love and treasure - paul.
DeleteYes! Modern pirates exist. This poem has a great rhythm as well as a fine poem.
Deletethanks victoria. too many pirates, not enough parrots where i live - love - paul.
DeleteBest of luck, Matey, and may you discover your true treasure!
Deletei've forgotten where i buried her tash ha ha - love - paul.
DeleteThis isn't exactly a pirate story, but it's on my mind, and it does involve a kidnapping...does that count? This is my retelling of a 14th Century romance, "William and the Werewolf," taken from a prose translation of the original middle English. This is the beginning - I have no idea whether I'll ever finish it.
ReplyDeleteWILLEM AND THE WEREWOLF
No virtue lies in hiding truth from light,
What is, what was, shall nevermore be buried,
So I reveal this story of the plight
Of babe, of beast, of regal parents worried,
Unearthly creature rising out of night,
The jaws that snap and seize, the infant carried
Into the ocean dark, a surf-foamed brew
That few survive: and every word is true.
In beautiful Apulia, by a hill,
There lived a king, a queen, their infant son—
The brother of the king was heir, until
The newborn babe became the chosen one.
The jealous brother then resolved to kill
The new anointed prince. His plot was spun,
The poison set in place. But as he reached
His hand to do the deed, a courtier screeched
And ran in terror. An enormous hound,
Or wolf, with fiery eyes and razor claws
Had cleared the palace wall with one great bound,
Had seized the infant princeling in its jaws
Then slashed the evil brother to the ground,
And turning once, then twice, without a pause.
Pursued by knights and horses, serfs and knaves,
It reached the ocean, plunged into the waves.
wow! found myself holding my breath as I read this. powerful write!
Deletei was always scared of werewolves when i was a kid tad. though i would let my puppy rip me to shreds if she felt like it. heeyyy i dated an unearthly creature that rose up in the night...she was called marie - nice imaginative poem - paul.
DeleteI love this. And you don't do rhyming poetry much. This reads exceptionally well. I do hope you'll finish it, although as a poem, this works as is.
DeleteI am continuing this saga. You can find it at https://www.facebook.com/tad.richards/notes?lst=583869249%3A583869249%3A1547256562
DeleteSounds like a worthy tale indeed! good job and well done.Looking forward to more!
DeleteI am going to try to do this one. I have an idea in my head but the chemo hit me harder than expected and I just can't seem to get it together right now.
ReplyDeleteTake all the time you need, and care for yourself first.
DeleteThe Ballade of Sadie Farrell
ReplyDeleteSadie the Goat sailed the Hudson River
a pirate of great renown.
She earned her name, being a giver
of head butts to take her prey down.
Then one day she fought with Gallus Mag
who bit off Sadie's ear.
So she stole a sloop after hitting that snag,
and became a pirate to fear.
She raided farmhouses, mansions too,
along the Hudson and Harlem.
Making a fortune for herself and her crew
till the land-folk began to shoot them.
So, Sadie the Goat returned to the mainland,
and made peace with Gallus Mag,
who returned her ear which had been canned
and pickled to show and to brag.
Now known as "Queen of the Waterfront,"
in a locket the ear would stay
which she wore for show, or maybe a stunt,
around her neck for the rest of her days.
http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2011/02/the-legend-of-sadie-the-goat-hudson-river-pirate
Deletelol! what a fun read! great rhythm
Deletenice one vic. reads like a sea shanty too. i could imagine hoisting the main sail while singing this - love and aaaarrrrrrghhhhh's - paul.
DeleteVery cute.
DeleteNicely done! you are a very good writer indeed.
Deletethis is about a woman who is a bigger pirate than i'll ever be.
ReplyDeleteSINKING SLOWLY
she was my treasure
when she left
i was bereft
lost everything that gave me pleasure
cold nights in my cabin
my hot tears gently dabbing
she took my pirate gold
a lost lamb, who long ago
left the fold
after five months all she said was " no "
she was a pirate herself
never worked a day in her life
let everybody else do the trouble and strife
while she amassed the wealth
never saw her buy her own flagon of grog
spent my doubloons
and left me sinking in a bog
hauled out by a lady
that could see the real me
and a couple of hope balloons.
i like a bit of adventure, but she was probably the most dangerous creature that ever lived......and that includes tyrannosaurus rex - love - paul.
DeleteGlad to see you haven't lost your misogyny. Good story.
Deleteis it mysogyny tad when your girlfriend tries to kill you, because you ran out of money? - paul.
DeleteWell told taleand one to advise caution. You're too young to remember a song--Bonnie might, that began, "she had a dark and a roving eye, and her hair hung down in Ringlets,"
Deletethanks tash. can't place that song. it's gonna bug me till i find it now. don't know if you know the song by e.l.o. that goes " she was a devil woman, with evil on her mind " uh - hu! - love - paul.
Deleteyeah she sounds like quite the scoundrel and just the type you would go for. you tell a good story with this poem.
ReplyDeleteAlas me mateys of days long gone
ReplyDeletewhen Cap'n Crunch gave us such pleasure
when we got to the bottom of the box
there was always a toy treasure.
To get children to buy their brand
they weren't alone in this little ploy
Cheerios, Pebbles, Sugar Crisp and others
tried offer the most awesome toy.
of course we all remember the treasure
at the bottom of the cracker jack box
you never knew what you would find
a magic ring or maybe pet rocks.
But for some reason quite unknown
that practice stopped so long ago
simple pleasures like hidden treasures
are something our young ones will never know.
"I know you're looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks
But there ain't no Coup de Ville hiding at the bottom
Of a Cracker Jack box" - Meatloaf
Yeah, I agree with Paul. Whatever happened to that? When did it stop? Love the poem too. Very well done. Rhyme and rhythm are spot on.
DeleteProbably a victim of the desire not to have children choke on some kind of plastic toy. Oh Well, a victim of zealous care, I suppose.
Deleteyeah. whatever happened to that? i used to dig through boxes of cornflakes to get the toy soldier, or football card at the bottom. now it's just crumbs. nice take on the promt bonita - love - paul.
ReplyDeletesecret Paul...it was easier to open the bottom of the box then tape it shut again.
DeleteA Pirate's Life
ReplyDeleteA pirate's life for me
or so I once thought,
entranced by the images
in my father's beautiful books.
Pictures of bearded men
and their swagger,
of ships and sails
and tales of bold adventure.
Nothing was ever said
of the dirt and dreadful
health, the missing teeth
from scurvy, and the lice—not nice.
My own adventures
were all in my head,
as I lay in my bed dreaming
with pleasure of pirates and treasure.
ayyyee a pirating life, can be tough. caught out by the gail's
Deletetearing away thy sails.
landlubbers don't have it so rough - your safe anchor - paul.
Thanks for the comment, and how true it is!
DeleteBetter late than never, eh? Hope I get a look see.
ReplyDelete