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Calling All Pirate Poets and Artists!!!

Started by Blackbead, May 14, 2008, 12:59:29 PM

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Blackbead

Are you interested in getting some of your work published?  Are you interested in seeing your work in a book along with other pirate poets and artists?  Do you want to get paid a bit of coin in the process?  Would you like to see this happen without a great deal of work on your part??

If you are interested in becoming a part of a compilation of pirate poetry and artwork then drop me a line in this topic and we'll go from there.  I've already published two books (check them out at www.Blackbead-jewelry.com - follow the links to "Blackbead Books") and am in the process of working with several other pirate poets and artists on a new one.  This will be a compilation of work that each poet or artists will recieve compensation for - you'll get a share of every book sold depending on the amount of your work that is accepted in the final publication.  ALl of the people working on this will have a say in what goes out.  If any of this sounds interesting, let me hear from you!

Blackbead
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Blackbead

An example of the work to be included:

The Captain's Coat

"Get aloft," the captain shouted,
"There's a prize to be taken out there!
Man your guns and prepare for a battle
Each survivor takes an equal share!"

I was sailing on the brig Adventure
As nimble a square-rigger as I've ever seen
She was stiff, she was yar, she was weatherly,
And her lines were true and clean.

Her captain was a man named Griffin
Who was always ready for a fight
His hand was iron at discipline
But he treated us seadogs right.

He wore a long green gentleman's coat
With a high collar and trim of gold
You could find him with barely a glance
'Cause he always wore it, whether hot or cold.

We bore down on the ship he had sighted
As we neared her the crew gasped in surprise
For there before us, rising up out of the haze,
A Spanish galleon appeared before our eyes.

Tall as a mountain, three times our height
And that was with her riding low
And her sides were covered with gun ports
Twelve on top and twelve below.

I was berthed as Griffin's Master Gunner
And I knew what that broadside could mean
If the Dons knew how to use them
Their guns would sweep our deck clean.

Captain Griffin had always been a brawler
I knew what he intended to do
We'd run in and throw over our grappling hooks
And our boarders would o'erwhelm the crew.

Standing at me station, I trembled
The sweat was a'crawling down me back
The 'Venture was running ahead of the wind
Approaching the Dons' on their portside tack

Our decks were cleared for action
Coming up on the galleon fast
When I saw the Spaniard turning –
We would suffer at least one blast!

As the big ship turned toward us
I could see we'd slip side by side
And just before we met her
"Get down," the captain cried!

The rest of us dashed for cover
The battle had truly begun
We were less than a cable from her
And she let loose with every gun.

Two dozen iron black killers
Came flying at us through the air
And after the bone crushing impacts
There was blood and death everywhere

As we cleared her and the screams got started
I looked around me to measure the cost
The masts were still standing upright
But half of our port cannon were lost.

The men were quick to take stations
Some were wounded but less were dead
Unless hit by a ball or flying wreckage
A sailor's wounds were caused by splinters instead.

I ran in search of the captain
And found him to be one of our dead
His body lay limp as a rag doll
His green coat was covered with red

I knew that we should go running
I knew we were outgunned and outmanned
But I knew when I saw the captain's body
That caution and reason were damned

The crew had seen the poor captain
And silence ruled over the boat
But the weary survivors all watched me with awe
As I put on the bloody captain's coat.

"Take heart, ye seadogs, and hear me,
This battle is not over yet,
Listen up and we'll give these poxy Spaniards
A fight they'll never forget!"

"Trim your sails and blow on your matches,
Prepare to cut across her wake
We have the wind in our favor and
We'll give her stern a rake!"

A lackluster cheer went up from the crew
As I tried to give orders of a sort,
"Man the portside guns, you seahawks
And helmsman, HARD A'PORT!"

The nimble 'Venture swung 'round smartly
And we heeled with hardly a sway
And there sat the Spanish galleon
Resting barely two cables away.

For when she had turned to meet us
In the irons she became firmly locked
With the wind a'blowin' on her bowsprit
She sat as still as if she was docked

But the Adventure was like a seabird
Flying light and fast and spry
And even with the wind against us
We were sailing full and by.

Our first broadside, I admit, was a weak one
The portside guns were down to five
But when we came 'round a'tacking
The starboard guns came alive.

We slowly tacked towards the transom
Firing each time the guns came to bear
Turning the 'Venture as close to the wind
As I could bring myself to dare.

To be sure the stern is a small target
No matter the ship's great size
But each hit does maximum damage
Each hit brings you closer to the prize.

The Spaniard was wallowing windless
He was trying to turn her in vain
But the fight went out of him fully
When we parted his iron rudder chain.

At last the galleon struck her colors
And we boarded her without a fight
And when we found her treasure
My eyes had never beheld such a sight

There was a chest flowing over with jewelry
Emeralds and pearls and more
There was a bag of gold minted coinage
And silver bars wrought by the score.

We knew that we were all rich men
At least for a month or two
And I knew that we had a bright future:
This was now my ship and my crew.

In addition to the gold, jewels and silver
The hold was full of gentlemen's dress
There were silks and brocades a'plenty
And I was tempted I must confess

But I knew as we made ready to leave her
As we lowered the treasure to our boat
That no other jacket would ever fit me
And I still wear Captain Griffin's green coat

            Stephen Sanders
            ©2008

Come join us, me hearties!  We may not get rich but it'll be an adventure for sure!

Blackbead
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Blackbead

Just to bump this thread and to let you know that there will be more than one kind of poetry in the proposed book, here is "The Middle Watch":

The Middle Watch

The loneliest time in the life of a ship:
'Tween the last glimpse of the light of day
And the first rays of the rising sun.
When the stars remind ye how small ye be
And the moon watches yer every move;
Or the night be so black that ye lose yer way
Finding the back of yer hand.
Scanning that horizon of tarry blackness
Even a ship of solid gold would be missed.
But every salt must take a turn
Standing the Middle Watch from time to time.
And it can be a good time for a sailor to think;
Quiet, and steady, and without many surprises
When the water's deep and the map empty.
With no hope of a prize or plunder
The eye can turn inward in search of treasure.
Ye can find yerself in coiling a rope,
Or trimming a sail to a perfect pitch,
Or holding a true course by lamplight
During the alone-est time in a life at sea.

                                                Stephen Sanders
                                                ©2008

Currently, there are seven poets and three artists involved and the book is expected to be out no later than the first of November.  If you're interested, let me know.

Blackbead
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Lady Christina de Pond

oke this one's borrowed from Kenny

Move on like a singer's prayer
Let go like a levee brakes
Walk away as if I don't care
Learn to shoulder my mistakes
Built a fain like your favorite song
Get reckless when there's no need
Laugh as your stories ramble on
Break my heart, but it won't bleed

My only friends are pirates
It's just who I am
I'm better as a memory that as your man

Never sure when the truth won't do
Pretty good on a lonely night
Move on the way the storm blows through
Never stay but then again I might
Struggles sometimes to find the words
Always sure until I die
Walk a line until it blurs
Built walls to high to clime out
It's just who I am
I'm better as a memory than as you man
I see you leaning
You're bound to fall
I don't want to be that mistake
I'm just a dreamer
Nothing more
You should know it before it gets too late

Goodbyes are like a rule and wheel
You never know where they are gunna land
First you're spinning then your standin' still
Left home with a losing hand
One day your gunna find someone
Right away you will know it's true
That all of your seekin's done
It's just a part of the passing through
Right there at that moment
You will finally understand
I was better as a memory than as your man
Better as a memory than as your man
Helmswoman of the Fiesty Lady
Lady Ashley of De Coals
Militissa in the Frati della Beata Gloriosa Vergine Mari

Blackbead

An excellent bit of scribbling!  Now, if only I can get young Master Chesney to contrinubte it for the book!   ;)  Thank ye fer sharing!  But how about one of your own for publication . . . ?

Blackbead
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Lady Christina de Pond

i haven't wrote a pirate songs hmmmm maybe i should write meself a pirate poem ;)
Helmswoman of the Fiesty Lady
Lady Ashley of De Coals
Militissa in the Frati della Beata Gloriosa Vergine Mari

Blackbead

You're more than welcome to submit something m'Lady!  We're up to 39 pages of poems and artwork.  Whatever you want to submit, it'll go into the mix and, like every good pirate crew, the group will vote on what poems and artwork they wish to publish.  I await your decision . . . and your pirate poem!

Blackbead
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Taffy Saltwater

#7
Penned this as a memorial to my lost loves and is kept in the cuff of my coat:

My Captain

The Captain took my waist
  as we danced the Morris in Dover;
The Captain took my heart
  as we danced the Gavotte in Calais;
The Captain took my heart
  as we danced the Eternal Dance of Love in Dublin.
The English shot down my Captain
  and no more will we mark time.
Now at Execution Dock I'll dance the hempen jig
  and thrice the tide will flow o'er me.
And then in Fiddler's Green -
  O!  I'll dance with my Captain once more.
Sveethot!

Blackbead

Taffy,

Thank ye for the submission!  It is an excellent addition to the book and it will be added in with the rest for final approval by ALL of the crew, YOU included!  Please drop me an email with your name and a short bio so that I can have a way to contact you and to include in the book.  We're currently up to 43 pages and making excellent headway to a 1 November publication date of a poetry book full of 100 (hopefully) pages of pirate works and artwork.  If you have anything else that you'd like to include please send it along!  Thank ye again!

Blackbead
blackbeads_tc@yahoo.com
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Blackbead

Ahoy there, me hearties! 

The pirate poetry book is currently at 48 pages!!  I spoke with several more folks who have expressed an interest in submitting material and I think we should shoot for 100 pages by the end of the summer.  I'm still hoping to get more artwork – we are currently sporting only seven pages of art (six digitally manipulated photographs and a Public Domain piece that I played with to use as an illustration for one of my poems.)  I've been putting together a cover and have come up with two separate ideas.  Would anyone have any heartburn with me using my Renspace page as a way of putting this out there?  It would make it real easy for everyone if no one has any problems accessing that page.  I'm going to put the pictures of the proposed covers up in the next few days and will put out a link to the page.  Talk to ye all soon! 

Blackbead
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

1stmatematt

If you would like to take me up on this I would love to publish some of your work in Pirates Magazine as well. Often we have a page or two of beautiful grapics or pictures without text. Nice to have a few good poems or short 1 page stories on file to use when needed. If you are intrested email me @ 1stmate@baltimoreknife.com

Cheers.

If not I am by no means offended.
1stMateMatt AKA Matt Stagmer
Co-Owner of Baltimore Knife and Sword
Assistant Editor of Pirates Magazine

Emerald Shaunassey

#11
Blackbead,
     Though poetry doesn't come easily to me, I was impressed with this bit of 'poetry' this eve.  I have no title for it, none comes to my mind.  Perhaps one will occur to you, my friend. 

Emerald

The Hellion Betrayed
I sit alone beside m' fire,
My life and times to revisit.
The days of rollick and of ire,
They are all my lovers.

The roar of the cannon,
The fire, the flame;
The smoke that billows aloft
The deck quaking 'neath the feet.

The riches, the drink, the men all a' plenty,
The dances, of them, I had me a many.
The dice, the cards, the games o' chance;
The oath, the dare, I took every risk.

The rig sighing in the breeze,
The deck, weathered and worn.
The sails crisply snapping,
All were a song, sung only to me.

The sighting, the chase;
The blood set ablaze.
The prize set a'fore me,
Twas within m' gaze.

The lootings, the takings,
The sinking of ships.
Of these things, I was so great,
None could stand 'gainst me.

For sure and for certain
I commanded and was obeyed;
For none would gainsay me
And none would fail.

Until that cursed day,
Day most befouled;
When into my path;
A liar didst befall me.

With words oh so sweet,
Words of entreaty did speak.
With hope my heart did beat,
And in turn, my knees did grow weak.

Ah, but golden words soon turn,
Sweetness nay more, only slag.
He turned 'gainst me, left me to burn
Saying "I care not for this slattern hag."

From me they took all my silver and gold,
My ships and my men, my freedom ... my spirit.
For a few pounds, my life had been sold;
Scorned and laughed at, ever will I hear it.

For punishment, I was not hanged.
No prison for me nor tied to the Wapping stick;
Nay, for a woman out of her place I was declaimed;
Left to rot upon land, for all my days ... such a cruel trick.

So now I sit alone beside m' fire,
My life and times to revisit.
The days of rollick and of ire,
They were once my lovers.
© K.W., 2008
IWG #979, IFRP #569, RMG # 614, Bard # 171.
Creator, Owner, & Manager of Williams Entertainment: Home of The Ladies of the Salty Kiss, The Shanty Lasses, Native Souls, & Grand Lake Renaissance Festival.

Blackbead

Ah, Captain Emerald! 

I am honored that ye've shared this with me.  I agree, all ye need is a title.  Let me think on this for a turn of the tide and see if I can come up with a suggestion for ye.  But, this will take us up above 50 pages and it will do it with STYLE!

Thank ye!

Blackbead
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Emerald Shaunassey

Alright Blackbead, ya scoundrel, I dinnae ken what ya have done to set m' muse off so much but here ya go, tis another from me.

The Last Watch

On the Last Watch I stand;
Leaning 'gainst the railing,
The sea stretched out a'fore me.
The ship's company quietly gathered 'round.

On the Last Watch I stand;
Free from the surgeon's hand I be,
Pain nay more wracks my body,
Restful, thankfully at last, I am.

On the Last Watch I stand;
N'r more to land will I go,
N'r more will I drink an' dance
N'r more to see those I adore.

On the Last Watch I stand;
The bell has been rung; its toll drifts out.
The Captain has read from the Good Booke,
My Soul has been shriven, my sins are forgiven.

On the Last Watch I stand;
Surrounded by family, some good and some bad.
With a heave and a ho, their task they begin,
Mates at the ready, work roughened hands, oh so gentle
As they slip me down into my last salty kiss.

On the Last Watch I stood,
I lived my life by my wits and m' blade.
I fought the good fight but died just the same.
Doin' what I chose to do, 'neath the flag so bold,
I died in my place, on the Last Watch I stood.
© K.W., 2008
IWG #979, IFRP #569, RMG # 614, Bard # 171.
Creator, Owner, & Manager of Williams Entertainment: Home of The Ladies of the Salty Kiss, The Shanty Lasses, Native Souls, & Grand Lake Renaissance Festival.

Emerald Shaunassey

Quote from: Blackbead on June 27, 2008, 08:38:02 AM
Ah, Captain Emerald! 

I am honored that ye've shared this with me.  I agree, all ye need is a title.  Let me think on this for a turn of the tide and see if I can come up with a suggestion for ye.  But, this will take us up above 50 pages and it will do it with STYLE!

Thank ye!

Blackbead

Note that I've *finally* titled the first piece.  Hope ya like it.   :)
IWG #979, IFRP #569, RMG # 614, Bard # 171.
Creator, Owner, & Manager of Williams Entertainment: Home of The Ladies of the Salty Kiss, The Shanty Lasses, Native Souls, & Grand Lake Renaissance Festival.

Emerald Shaunassey

Annnddd... another one "struck" tonight ... jeez, what gives???  LOL  Dinnae shoot me for the "campiness" of this one, I couldn't help myself!  Tee hee

A Sailor's Life For Me

Tis a sailor's life for me, ohhh off to high ole sea!
With my rucksack o'r my shoulder
And m' feet all clattering down
Tis a sailor's life for me, ohhh off to the high ole sea!

Oh, tis you an' me an the Skipper to boot,
We're off to the high seas, lookin' for loot.
We're not coming home for many a month,
Tis a sailor's life for me, ohhh off to the high ole sea!

There's sails to be trimmed and rigs to be set and the bilges they need a'pumping,
There's fish to be caught and decks to be scrubbed and still those bilges need pumping.
There's rum to be drunk and jigs to be danced and by God, those bilges need dumping.
Tis a sailor's life for me, ohhh off to the high ole sea!

The Skipper got pissed and the Mate is crazy and the Cook's pulling double duty,
The Bosun be mad and the Carpenter's been nailed and the Monkeys are all fruity.
The Cabin Boy got sloshed and the crew's all blue-blooded paralytic drunk but,
Tis a sailor's life for me, ohhh off to the high ole sea!

Twelve months have come and gone since we left port,
The trip's been long and the weather's been out of sorts,
But now we're homeward bound, for certain we'll rest and ... do it all o'r again for,
Tis a sailor's life for me, ohhh off to the high ole sea!
© K.W., 2008
IWG #979, IFRP #569, RMG # 614, Bard # 171.
Creator, Owner, & Manager of Williams Entertainment: Home of The Ladies of the Salty Kiss, The Shanty Lasses, Native Souls, & Grand Lake Renaissance Festival.

Blackbead

Ah-HAH!  You wild pirate rover!  Excellent!  Keep 'em coming!  The last one is very similar to the one that Mel and I did but it's also very different, if you know what I mean.  I plan on putting them both in and we'll just let the sea roll with it!  Thank you SO much for taking such a hand on this line!  And ye have me condolences for your recent turmoil in your crew.  I read Jack's blog . . . it never seems to end.  Ah, well!  Pass the grog and keep 'em coming!

Blackbead

PS:  It's glad I am that I've tied the Muse to your tail!
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Blackbead

68 pages and counting!  We are almost ready to set sail!
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Blackbead

It is the end of July.  Final submissions are due by September 1st.  If you are still interested in submitting either poetry or artwork, please drop me a line at blackbeads_tc@yahoo.com so I can save some room in the book.  Thank you!
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Lady Donegan

AKA:
Kendra The Seamaid
Maevous O'Connell
Fox McShane Cursed Crew (Ship's Pilot)

Blackbead

Thank ye, Lady Donegan!  They already be in the book and they put us at 90 pages!  We are within two weeks of the cut-off and I just received some poems from a pirate off the Pyracy Pub forum that, added to another piece of artwork I am expeecting any day now, should put us right at the goal of 100 pages!

HUZZAH!

Blackbead
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."

Blackbead

Ahoy, mates!

We currently stand at 98 pages with probably one more piece of artwork and one more poem to be submitted.  That will definitely put us over the 100 page goal that we set so long ago!  I applaud everyone, including our two newest poets, Shana Martin and "Captain Tito."  The deadline is still two weeks away; there is still time to get in poems or artwork if you wish.  But the turning of the tide draws nigh.  Soon we will be away on this great adventure!

Putting on the last touches of paint,
Blackbead
"It's not the gold that sets our sails, 'tis freedom and the promise of a better life that raises our black flags."