pirates | Stories & Soliloquies

Tag: pirates

Excerpt: An Unfinished Tale of a Villainous Pirate

Posted at 11:30 am by Michelle Joelle, on July 14, 2014

A few weeks ago I shared an excerpt from an epic pirate poem I’m writing, currently titled An Unfinished Tale of a Villainous Pirate. I have to clarify that when I say “epic” I actually mean it – this thing is turning into a cocktail of Chaucerian couplets (but with the rhythm of The Night Before Christmas), Norse folktales, and an Odyssey-like journey for a band of completely unlikeable pirates.

Today, I’m skipping way ahead in the story to share a very teeny, tiny excerpt that’s making me pretty happy. Like the last excerpt, this is still a first draft with a lot to polish up, and it’s also nestled in an abundance of content and context, but I’m still so delighted by how this story is pulling me along that I’m not even thinking about editing yet.

—

The Sleeping Tidal Trolls – by Michelle Joelle

Most trolls of the old lore tend to reside
In mountainous caverns, as far deep inside
As they can burrow themselves without disturbing
Secrets the mountain does not want unearthing.
For that is the reason why trolls remain hidden:
To guard all of nature’s most valuable wisdom.
Truths our own history never has told,
Being too great for words, and far, far too old.

But trolls don’t just limit their watch to the caves,
They protect what lies hidden beneath ocean waves.
You’ve seen them before if you’ve been to the coast,
Though I’d wager you not recognize them as foes.
They appear just like rocks sticking out of the sea
And you can skip on their backs just as safe as can be.
Through the blue-green salt water they look like shadows
Or the darkness which marks off the deep from the shallow.

But if ever you wade among the large rocky crags
Beware of sharp fingers, or you might just get grabbed
By those who lurk in the water, scrounging for bones.
Lucky for us, dry air turns them to stone.
It’s not how they stay, no, it’s just how they sleep,
Settling into their slumber in the tidal retreat.
There they lay guard while the sea water rests
Over treasures too sacred to fit in pirate chests.

—

Can you see him here, curled up for a nap? He’s got a lovely beard.

Posted in Poems | 4 Comments | Tagged couplets, my work, pirates, poetry, stories, work in progress, writing

An Unifinished Tale of a Villainous Pirate

Posted at 11:30 am by Michelle Joelle, on June 4, 2014

Here follows a very short excerpt of what is turning into a very long poem about a pirate. There’s a small bit that comes before the part I’m about to share, and a lot more after.

This is a first draft with a lot to work on, but I’m having so much fun with it I couldn’t help but share. It’s (loosely) rhyming couplets all the way down, four beats per line, with a pickup at the start of each (I know absolutely nothing about poetry, so I’m using musical terms to describe the rhythm).

—

<unnamed Pirate tale>

by Michelle Joelle

Captain Hengwert was a pirate of a villainous sort
Bent on swashbuckling mayhem that no one could thwart.
He’d gather a crew that was loyal and strong,
Who’d stay true to their Captain as they sailed along.
They’d heed every order and they’d do so with pleasure,
For Hengwert was famous for sharing his treasure.
More pleased by the winning than the things that he won
He’d divide up the spoils when victory was done.

Nonetheless he had riches and jewels by the score
And there was nothing he wanted he could not afford
For from every loot harvest he’d take just one thing,
Amassing great wealth from this slow collecting.
He had pendants of silver and rings made of gold,
As many as his neck and his fingers could hold.
He had chain-mail that jingled and a strong leather vest
And a pair of stout wrist guards that matched all the rest.

Each piece of the set was bordered with weaving
And etched with depictions of sailing and thieving.
On the front there was Black Bart being taken by force
Then turning the tables in a matter of course.
To his left was l’Olonnais playing out his grim part,
Cutting into his victim and eating the heart.
And plundering ships along Hengwert’s broad back
Were the vicious Anne Bonny and Calico Jack.

‘Round his waist hung a belt with rivets of stone
And its buckle was fashioned out of old sun bleached bones.
From this belt hung his purse and several small daggers
That gave off a menacing gleam when he swaggered.
But his weapon of choice was an age-old broad sword,
Which served him steadfastly, both on and off shore.
It’s grip had long molded to the shape of his hand,
But the gilded guard glimmered, the hilt still was grand.

Beyond this his dressing was simple and loose:
A plain white linen tunic, plain trousers, brown boots.
He was not one for ruffles, or bows, or a hat,
And he kept his beard tidy and his long hair pulled back.
The skin on his face was tanned and well weathered,
All wrinkled and roughened like crackled old leather.
His eyes, black and beady, would glimmer and twinkle
And when he laughed (as he did often) his whole face would crinkle.

Hengwert had no possessions, other than these
So he could move ship to ship, commandeering with ease.
His was a life of a nomadic sort;
His home was where he was, no matter the port,
For his name was so well known throughout every land
That his well never ran dry of admiring fans.
In exchange for a chance to be part of his crew,
They would offer him bedding, strong ale, and hot stew.

—

If there’s interest, I’ll post more. There’s a lot of story left to cover!

Posted in Poems | 8 Comments | Tagged couplets, excerpt, my work, pirates, poem, poetry, work in progress

Stories & Soliloquies

Tag: pirates

Excerpt: An Unfinished Tale of a Villainous Pirate

Posted at 11:30 am by Michelle Joelle, on July 14, 2014

An Unifinished Tale of a Villainous Pirate

Posted at 11:30 am by Michelle Joelle, on June 4, 2014

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