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The Poetry of Piracy
ReggiePoet
Reggie
Forum Posts: 364
Reggie
Fire of Insight
28
Joined 13th May 2018Forum Posts: 364
Poetry Contest Description
“Talk Like a Pirate Day” is September 19. The guys who came up with it are morons, it is an insult to history.
There really is a way that Pirates, from the golden age of the Spanish Main, spoke. It was the spectrum of English spoken in the port cities of 16th and 17th century England. In other words, it was the English of Shakespeare!
If you are interested in how Pirates really spoke at that time, I encourage you to search for the work of David Crystal, a linguist, or his son Ben, a Shakespearen actor. They, among others, have reconstructed the accent of that time and place. It has become known as O.P. for Original Pronunciation.
A better date to commemorate what pirates really sounded like is approaching… on June 7, 1692, the city of Port Royal, Jamaica was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami. Let us commemorate that sad day with a competition of Pirate Poetry!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Royal
Being a fan of both pirates and Shakespeare, I assert that a Poetry of Piracy would consist of Iambic verse, in rhyme; this could be in the form of sonnets, quaterns, what have you… Shakespeare even ventured into free verse… from time to time!
Let’s celebrate the memory of Port Royal with some poems about pirates! The only rules are…
1. Iambic meters
2. Pirate themes!
3. Two entries per real person
I humbly submit this example, about the sad day itself:
Pirate 5 - Lament for Port Royal
quatern
In year o’ 1692
The wrath o’ God came rainin’ down
Like Sodom, and Gomorrah too!
And smote our fair Port Royal town!
An earthquake and a mighty wave
In year o’ 1692
Condemned her to a watery grave
The city, and her people, too!
And when the angry sea was through,
The Fires o’ Hell consumed the shore
In year o’ 1692
The fair Port Royal was no more!
Aboard me ship, out on a raid
Me life was spared, and so me crew
When, fer her sins, Port Royal paid
In year o’ 1692!
Avast!
If you are interested in how Pirates really spoke at that time, I encourage you to search for the work of David Crystal, a linguist, or his son Ben, a Shakespearen actor. They, among others, have reconstructed the accent of that time and place. It has become known as O.P. for Original Pronunciation.
A better date to commemorate what pirates really sounded like is approaching… on June 7, 1692, the city of Port Royal, Jamaica was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami. Let us commemorate that sad day with a competition of Pirate Poetry!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Royal
Being a fan of both pirates and Shakespeare, I assert that a Poetry of Piracy would consist of Iambic verse, in rhyme; this could be in the form of sonnets, quaterns, what have you… Shakespeare even ventured into free verse… from time to time!
Let’s celebrate the memory of Port Royal with some poems about pirates! The only rules are…
1. Iambic meters
2. Pirate themes!
3. Two entries per real person
I humbly submit this example, about the sad day itself:
Pirate 5 - Lament for Port Royal
quatern
In year o’ 1692
The wrath o’ God came rainin’ down
Like Sodom, and Gomorrah too!
And smote our fair Port Royal town!
An earthquake and a mighty wave
In year o’ 1692
Condemned her to a watery grave
The city, and her people, too!
And when the angry sea was through,
The Fires o’ Hell consumed the shore
In year o’ 1692
The fair Port Royal was no more!
Aboard me ship, out on a raid
Me life was spared, and so me crew
When, fer her sins, Port Royal paid
In year o’ 1692!
Avast!
ReggiePoet
Reggie
Forum Posts: 364
Reggie
Fire of Insight
28
Joined 13th May 2018Forum Posts: 364
Pirate 2 - My Favored Drink
quatern
Aye, my favored drink be Rhum
The finest drink was ever made!
Distilled, out oaken barrels, born’d
From festered juice of sugar cane
A pirate knows his liquors well
Aye, my favored drink be Rhum
Afford Ye wine? Yer wealth foretell!
We’ll board yer ship to sample some!
Scotch whisky tends ta’ make me glum
And thinkin’ forlorn, ‘bout me past
Aye, my favored drink be Rhum
I’ll sleep, and dream of whores! Avast!
Bourbons, Brandies, and the lot—
I’ll drink when e’re I’m offer’d some
But Toby jug of Grog be aught!
Aye, my favored drink be Rhum!
Aye, my favored drink be Rhum
The finest drink was ever made!
Distilled, out oaken barrels, born’d
From festered juice of sugar cane
A pirate knows his liquors well
Aye, my favored drink be Rhum
Afford Ye wine? Yer wealth foretell!
We’ll board yer ship to sample some!
Scotch whisky tends ta’ make me glum
And thinkin’ forlorn, ‘bout me past
Aye, my favored drink be Rhum
I’ll sleep, and dream of whores! Avast!
Bourbons, Brandies, and the lot—
I’ll drink when e’re I’m offer’d some
But Toby jug of Grog be aught!
Aye, my favored drink be Rhum!
Written by ReggiePoet
(Reggie)
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another example; not an entry
buddydog
Forum Posts: 93
Thought Provoker
6
Joined 5th May 2015Forum Posts: 93
Pirate Life
I guess you never saw my SOS
Cause you always sailed on by
I wonder if you ever think of me
As you disappear into a sunset sky
A pirate’s flag you wear so well
Always lookin’ for a new heart to steal
A treasure chest of broken hearts
I guess it’s not the gold, rather it’s the thrill
Baby I’m stranded here
On your island of misery
I’m not asking you to sail the seven seas
Just do what you can and rescue me
So much time has gone by
I walk up and down on this shore
When I find my pearl in a shell
I won’t have to look back anymore
I know my ship will come in
A new love that will never say goodbye
A bowsprit angel with an anchor for me
Nothing but white sails against a deep blue sky
Cause you always sailed on by
I wonder if you ever think of me
As you disappear into a sunset sky
A pirate’s flag you wear so well
Always lookin’ for a new heart to steal
A treasure chest of broken hearts
I guess it’s not the gold, rather it’s the thrill
Baby I’m stranded here
On your island of misery
I’m not asking you to sail the seven seas
Just do what you can and rescue me
So much time has gone by
I walk up and down on this shore
When I find my pearl in a shell
I won’t have to look back anymore
I know my ship will come in
A new love that will never say goodbye
A bowsprit angel with an anchor for me
Nothing but white sails against a deep blue sky
Written by buddydog
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slipalong
Forum Posts: 864
Dangerous Mind
43
Joined 1st Jan 2018Forum Posts: 864
Higher Tides
Six years a'for the mast and clews lay limp and slack
the night, dark as Jamaican rum- tot tossed back
and pirate stars the stolen jewels, a bounty's haversack
Portent of the albatross and hush cast overall
the ocean calm so quiet, bore no sign of squall
borne deep upon the bed the chasm opened vault
Neptune waved the trident a liquid cliff emerged
not storm and tempest, the township must be purged
to sweep away the infidel would take a mighty surge
Men'o War were anchored safe, tethered to the quay
sailors wenching in a bawdy drinking spree
the cold chill raked, 'or the shore, and 'or the lea
Debauchery in inns and brothels, held such sport
that cup so full, for each favor could be bought
the sword of Damocles that hung, and no one saw
Pirates were tossed awake, tipped from slumbers bunk
and they cussed and staggered like half drunk
as the fathoms rose and gathered in a mighty hump
As it chased the night, built its speed, built it's height
and came upon the port with all its might
and swamp the town that never was contrite
The pirates heard the screams, darken pitch it culled
and few were spared, as the briny all engulfed
and chaos laid its hand, all hell was the result
And C'ptn Blythe smiled with blackened teeth
a golden opportunity, now the prize to seize
headed for the port, was so great his greed
Bounty for us all awaits, he raged
their powders wet, we have the fighting edge
whilst devastation and confusion all pervade
Upon the swell they neared upon the coast
the bounty out to them did float
the grappling hook not the cannons smoke
Rings and jewels on corpses hung
barrels of brandy, barrels of rum
high tide of good fortune for black hearted scum
the night, dark as Jamaican rum- tot tossed back
and pirate stars the stolen jewels, a bounty's haversack
Portent of the albatross and hush cast overall
the ocean calm so quiet, bore no sign of squall
borne deep upon the bed the chasm opened vault
Neptune waved the trident a liquid cliff emerged
not storm and tempest, the township must be purged
to sweep away the infidel would take a mighty surge
Men'o War were anchored safe, tethered to the quay
sailors wenching in a bawdy drinking spree
the cold chill raked, 'or the shore, and 'or the lea
Debauchery in inns and brothels, held such sport
that cup so full, for each favor could be bought
the sword of Damocles that hung, and no one saw
Pirates were tossed awake, tipped from slumbers bunk
and they cussed and staggered like half drunk
as the fathoms rose and gathered in a mighty hump
As it chased the night, built its speed, built it's height
and came upon the port with all its might
and swamp the town that never was contrite
The pirates heard the screams, darken pitch it culled
and few were spared, as the briny all engulfed
and chaos laid its hand, all hell was the result
And C'ptn Blythe smiled with blackened teeth
a golden opportunity, now the prize to seize
headed for the port, was so great his greed
Bounty for us all awaits, he raged
their powders wet, we have the fighting edge
whilst devastation and confusion all pervade
Upon the swell they neared upon the coast
the bounty out to them did float
the grappling hook not the cannons smoke
Rings and jewels on corpses hung
barrels of brandy, barrels of rum
high tide of good fortune for black hearted scum
Written by slipalong
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ReggiePoet
Reggie
Forum Posts: 364
Reggie
Fire of Insight
28
Joined 13th May 2018Forum Posts: 364
I have extended this competition another week.
wallyroo92
Forum Posts: 1875
Tyrant of Words
154
Joined 11th July 2012Forum Posts: 1875
A Pirate's Booty
Ahoy all ye scallywags and scurby landlubbers
I be searchin’ fer a wench who knows how t’ swab me deck
So land ho she can’t be no skank or else walk off me plank
I wants t’ shower a beauty in me booty up to her neck
Avast! I found her - this bird sets me cannons to fire
She’s o’er thar sittin’ on top of that barrel drum
Ah look at that me lads I’ve never seen or had a dream
A strumpet who knows how t’ drink and handle her rum
I’ve looted ‘n pillaged nigh-on every island ‘n village
But I 'ave ne'er found such a cute a maiden as this
She'll be me treasure 'n prolly me new found pleasure
She can send shivers up me timber wit’ just one kiss
I won’t contend I’m already three sheets to th’ wind
This rum has given me some courage t’ natter t’ her
This lass has plenty of booty to plunder her goodies
But she’s jus' th' kind o' siren I’ve been a lookin' fer
Drink up me harties ‘n enjoy this swashbucklin’ party
Watch as I sweet talk her 'n sweep her off her feet
She be like th' kind o' gal t' boost up me morale
And I’ll be a bettin’ I’ll be a gettin’ a little treat
“Ye shut your mouth or I’ll ‘ave yer hide” she said
“I be a decent maid ‘cause I be tired of ye crooks,
Lots o’ ye sailors come in ‘n try to git me t’ bed
But if ye don't listen t' me then put up yer dukes”
I’ll mind me manners if ye excuse me grammar
But a seadog like me has ne'er seen th' likes o' ye
So pardon me miss but I’ll romance ye fer a kiss
'Cause I reckon I 'ave fallen in love wit' ye
“Don’t try to trick me ye pirate or I’ll get mighty irate
Tonight ye say this 'n tomorrow ye’re off t' sea
So if ye really wants t' owns it better put a rin' on it
'Cause if ye ever leave me I get half o' yer booty”
That’s how I came t’ be married, horny ‘n hurried
Like th' buried treasure I once discover’d in days o' ole
Turns out she loved th’ log so she gave me ten sprogs
All ‘cause I wanted t’ give her me long john silver ‘n gold
Written by wallyroo92
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ReggiePoet
Reggie
Forum Posts: 364
Reggie
Fire of Insight
28
Joined 13th May 2018Forum Posts: 364
Thank you buddydog, wallyroo92, and our winner slipalong!
Fine entries all. It is a shame that more folk weren't interested in the topic.
Congratulations slipalong, the narrative and style of your entry and the use of some words from the era earned you the trophy.
Fine entries all. It is a shame that more folk weren't interested in the topic.
Congratulations slipalong, the narrative and style of your entry and the use of some words from the era earned you the trophy.
slipalong
Forum Posts: 864
Dangerous Mind
43
Joined 1st Jan 2018Forum Posts: 864
Thank you R/P I found it challenging and thank you for the opportunity to write something out of the ordinary. I will prize this trophy above the rest.