The Dread Hunter is a bold poetic sea adventure about a crew set upon by a terrifying kraken, followed by one survivor’s struggle through wreckage, madness, and isolation to reach land and endure. It’s a vivid tale of peril, defiance, and survival against the forces of nature. It’s still going through the editing process right now but it’ll be out soon.

The first poem, “Tars Aboard the Dread Hunter,” is about the crew setting sail full of excitement and hope before the voyage turns ominous and disaster begins to gather beneath the surface.

And here is the first poem for you.

Come gather close, ye landsmen by the fire,
And hear the tale of Dread Hunter’s crew,
We boarded bold with hearts of pure desire,
To chase the seas where azure dreams come true.

The quay rang loud with sweethearts’ fond adieu,
Fair kerchiefs waved ‘gainst dawn’s unclouded skies,
Our tankards clashed in salty revelry too,
To speed our bark with rollicking goodbyes.

Young Jack the lad shouldered his sea-chest high,
And grinned at mates we’d sailed with years agone,
The bosun piped us up beneath the sky,
While gulls wheeled hail o’er waves we’d shortly own.

The purser doled our silver with a wink,
Old salts spun yarns of Indies’ glittering hold,
In swaying bunks we stowed our worldly link,
For treasures vast and riches manifold.

“All hands!” cried captain from the quarterdeck,
The anchor climbed its hawsepipe inch by inch,
Sails bellied full with zephyrs’ soft caress,
The fluke emerged triumphant from the clinch.

Belowdecks cook with ladle stirred the pot,
Of burgoo thick and duff in vapours high,
Grog rationed out to every thirsty throat,
Our yacht the finest ‘neath the wheeling sky.

From bow to stern we tramped in merry line,
With jigs and chants that echoed o’er the main,
No gale nor foe could dim our bold design,
Hurrah for Hunter on this bonny reign!

The mate conned compass steady as she goes,
Lookouts hailed spouts from whales in distant play,
Banter flew swift ‘twixt comrades none yet knows,
No night-storm fears to mar our joyful day.

The sun climbed gold o’er waves of sparkling sheen,
The old lands cliffs receded into haze,
New realms beckoned where adventure’s queen,
Awaits our prow through boundless ocean waves.

Yet deep below, the timbers gave a sigh,
As though the sea in secret longing yearned,
We laughed it by beneath the smiling sky,
While Dread Hunter gaily, proudly turned.

The breeze grew fresh, our canvas taut and trim,
We sang of sirens luring hearts astray,
No whisper warned of shadows vast and grim,
That stalked our wake through brightening of day.

At mid-watch hour beneath the starlit dome,
Old tales of monsters made us laugh and jest,
No inkling had we of our nearing doom,
As ripples strange foretold the deep’s unrest.