- Non-Erotic Poetry
- The Ballad of Old Black Shuck
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Along the wild North Norfolk coast
where gulls scream to the sky,
the legend lurks of Old Black Shuck
malevolent of eye.
The tale is told he has been seen
and shakes grown men to the core,
seeking his drowned master
upon the shingled shore.
A ghostly dog the sight of whom
brings doom to one and all,
a legend that keeps men abed
far from the old sea wall.
If you hear the rigging creaking
on the darkest moonless night,
draw the curtains round more closely
and never show a light.
Just a ruse to keep out prying eyes
where the contraband has been?
Perhaps, but just remember
Old Shuck has still been seen.
- COMMENTS
PoetGuyabout 13 years agosomething Poet Guy finds very difficult to do and sound natural, as you do here. Well done.
GuiltyPleasureover 13 years ago....to add except to agree. Ballads that read smoothly as this one does are not easy to write. You can just see the grizzled old sea dogs hunkered down in the pub sharing tales of Old Black Shuck.
Tess
Angelineover 13 years agoIt's clear and vivid and nicely self-contained. No extra words or missteps. You got this one just right, imo. You need to publish a book of these kinds of poems, these little narratives in rhyme. You're really good at it!
vrosej10over 13 years agoI love faery myths and Old Black Shuck is a beaut. There is a terrific song on this subject that I cannot remember the name of at this moment.
