Blackbead

Black Fox, Don't look at it like you're giving up something; look at it like your "treasure chest" is so heavy that you're going to have to be take out some of the swag so you can get the rest back to the ship! "Drop them silver bars so's we can handle the gold coin!" Congratulations on the success, me hearty! Blackbead

Killer in the Rain by Raymond Chandler. Also, the latest draft of a book of pirate poetry to be published November 1, 2008.

Say not another word, mate, I be of total and complete understandin'. Take yer time; when ye be ready, then ma'haps we'll be preparin' the secun or e'en the third book! Yer work is incredible! Do ye mind if I share it with others? Blackbead

They say that, do they?!? Well, obviously they be those that have an equal number of takeoffs and landings aboard a plane! If'n ye be so inclined, there still be room aboard the book for works of your art . . . I noticed ye claimed to be a worker of digital art as well. Poems or artwork, this adventure will take 'em all! Go'bless ye for readin' me scribblin's. Fair thee well till we meet again . . . Blackbead

She Walks the Deck at Midnight Gather around me, ye brave seadogs, And I’ll tell ye a tale of the sea, Believe what ye will when I’m finished But remember that no tale is free. Twenty years ago I was a pirate, Aboard the Sabre, a swift, deadly ship. We were out of Port Royal, Jamaica, Raiding the Main on that particular trip. I was hard at work in the galley, Cuttin’ bits from a big bacon slab, When I heard the older men talking, And I caught a bit of their gab. “By gar, ye all be superstitious, I care not what any of ye say I see your crosses and amulets and medallions And your wren’s feathers from last New Year’s Day.” “Ye all believe in ghoulies and ghosties And things that rise out of the sea. And many of ye call on St. Elmo, Oh, yes, ye can’t fool me!” “I heard the stories a’fore I signed articles And even more I’ve endured since then I know ye’ve heard it yourselves at least once But listen up and I’ll tell ye again.” “There’s a ghost who visits the Sabre And tho’ she only comes one night a year She never leaves alone in the mornin’ And where she goes is a place we all fear.” “She walks the deck at midnight, Flamin’ hair and a gown of mist, Her face a mask of fiery rage, Her hand an icy fist.” “In life she was a lovely senorita Taken from a town on the Main Beaten and abused by a savage pirate crew Her torturers finally drove her insane.” “They kept her in chains below deck With little or nothing to eat It was only after the worst was all over That they found the ship’s rats were her meat.” “One night a scalawag came to take her Like a fool he let loose her chains And swinging them like a scythe blade She decorated the bulkhead with his brains.” “Screaming then like a banshee She ran out onto the deck Startling the first pirate she came to She turned his face into a mangled, bloody wreck.” “Her screams brought the watch to attention And they soon cornered the little Spanish tart And with a fine shot from his flintlock The captain put a ball in her heart” “If they’d pitched her into the sea it’d been over But they bound her and pulled her up with a jerk And hung her from the bunt on the mainmast To let the seagulls and petrels do their work.” “Now seabirds be right hungry fellows, I can’t stand their shrill, screechin’, cries, And we all know when they start eatin’, They begin with the lips and the eyes.” “She hung there through both the dog watches And some say the helm glimpsed her that night But when the sun rose over the horizon The little lady was nowhere in sight.” “They say they never found her body Not a rag or a thread from her gown Some say she drifted up to Heaven I say a squeamish crewman cut her down.” “But in your stories she comes back for vengeance Takin’ a crewman on the anniversary of that night And without any screams or blood or noise She drags them off into the silvery moonlight” “And tonight’s the very night ye all tell me And it’s the midnight watch that I’ve drawn I suppose that you expect me to be cowerin’ And prayin’ to God that I see dawn.” “Well, ye won’t catch me singin’ ‘hallelujah,’ Or wearin’ a magic geegaw someplace, Just look for me in the mornin’ And I’ll be laughin’ right to your face!” He smirked as he rose from the table, Leavin’ behind a dozen other men, Who judgin’ by the looks on their faces, Believed that they’d never see him again. I vowed to spend that night above deck Being young, I wanted to see what I could see But mornin’ found me asleep on the hawser And the ship was as quiet as can be. The men were noticeably silent They had been that way since dawn For when the mornin’ watch had taken over The laughin’ unbeliever was gone. Of him we found neither hide nor hair, But in truth it wasn’t much of a loss; The sea deals harsh to a man without faith And I think I’ll just keep wearin’ me cross. I pray that it keeps me safe as I sail, Or if not, that it leads me to the light, For at dusk I board the Sabre again, And I stand the midnight watch tonight. She walks the deck at midnight, Flaming hair and a gown of mist, Her face a mask of fiery rage, Her hand an icy fist. Stephen Sanders ©2008

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

A quick question for those of you submitting poetry - I have done several poetry readings in the past couple of months and have been using only my works. Would you mind if I used one of your poems in the poetry readings? These are primarily used as ways to market the pirate poetry book and so it would be for a good cause (yours!) Let me know, I will probably be doing one down in Beaumont, Texas this weekend and would love to add one of your works! Blackbead

Ahoy there, mates! Last Saturday, some of the members of the founding cadre of The Brotherhood of the Gulf (BOTG) met on the grounds of Middlefaire Renaissance Faire in Hillsboro, Texas for a great day of talks, food, and entertainment. If you missed it, you missed a fantastic time. But there’s more to come, lots more, and you can join the crew anytime! Paul Delacroix, the real founding father of the BOTG, was our host and he set the tone early by getting everyone into the air conditioning for our meeting. The initial meeting lasted about an hour and a half with presentations from Paul, Rev One-eye, and yours truly, Blackbead. We set down our ultimate goals – the four foundation stones of the group – which include 1) having fun, 2) educational efforts in the form of pirate reenacting, 3) having a performance-based part of the group that can do lane acts and sword-fights at events, and 4) providing a venue for people to get involved in some charitable functions. Our first big event is going to be this year’s Middlefaire, closely followed by Pirate Days in The Colony. Paul wants us to provide some entertainment for the folks that come out to Middlefaire. Perhaps a brawl between pirates over at Rum Pot Alley. Maybe a sword fight or two. And definitely some real characters that folks can interact with while they are walking around. Can someone do a village drunk?? We’ll see. Paul wants to have another get together on the weekend of July 19th and maybe we can get some cast members matched up with their personae. Kenny Sanders rode up from Beaumont to provide the musical entertainment and if you didn’t get the chance to hear him then go to www.myspace.com/kennysandersmusic to listen to some samplings of his incredible guitar playing. I used his PA system to do some poetry readings – poems like “The Homecoming of Danny Fry,” “The Captain’s Coat,” “Farewell, Brave Lion,” and Prize Island.” And the evening REALLY heated up with a fire spinning performance after the sun went down! We all had the chance to see three performers of varying experience put on a fantastic show that truly burned the night - from one person’s very first “burn” to someone who has been spinning fire since 1992! The pot luck dinner was incredible and provided a feast for everyone from about five o’clock on – there were shrimp kabobs, sho-sho sticks, several kinds of salads, baked potatoes, cakes, cookies, and some very good baked beans. Paul provided ice-cold bottles of water and there were plenty of drinks to go around from the various folks who brought ice chests. There was also a large group of folks who took part in the “Pirate Olympics.” The three vents were a pirate trivia quiz, Bluff, and Morgan’s Revenge. Third prize, a “Rusty Cutlass” CD was ironically won by Kenny Sanders’ singer, Robin! Second prize, a framed and matted print of “Raising the Black Flag,” was won by Rev One-Eye but wound up in the hands of Alma, a true piratetess who had had a run of bad luck playing Bluff. But the winner of first prize, a replica flintlock blunderbuss, was Lance, who took everyone’s money in both Bluff AND Morgan’s Revenge! A good time was had by all, although I need to get with Squinty about his “booby prize” for scoring the lowest on the Pirate Trivia Quizz!! “Hey, I got half of ‘em right . . .” All in all, this was a day of fun, laughter, great music and we even got some work done! I know that I’m going to remember the stars shining above us as we sat in the village of Middlefaire and the looks of determination while we talked about the future of the group. Like I said, BOTG will meet again down on July 19th – be looking for more information on the meeting (we think this time we’ll try to find a centrally located pub and all descend on it in garb!) Till we meet again, fair winds and a slow galleon to ye! Blackbead

THis looks VERY interesting . . . for those folks near Lake Lewisville in Texas and who don't mind a little Hollywood in their mug. http://piratedays.org/1.html Check it out! Blackbead

Ahoy, all! Lawton 2008 is over but it was a blast while it lasted! Me pirate's market did well but it was hot, dusty and BUSY! I think it was well over 95 both weekends and that last Sunday MUST have gone three fingers! This is one for the books, they did an outstanding job putting together the entertainment for this faire - the Ladies of the Salty Kiss, the Bilge Pumps, the Brothers Dimm, a falcronty show, the jousting, live monkeys being carried around the grounds by a husband and wife team of owners, a six foot boa wandering about with its owner, a "trained bear" on the lane, and one of the most outstanding magic acts I've seen in a long time. ALL of this for $10!! $9 if you stopped somewhere in town and got the $1 off coupon! Anyway, put this one on your calendar for next year. The crew of the Adventure intends on being there! Blackbead

Mates: We're up to 42 pages and going strong! And here's the lastest piece; it's a humorous poem written by Captain Jasper and I about the pirates and Renaissance Festivals. It was originally done for a pirate comedy group that appears at Renfaires. I think it might be a good way to end the book or something we could do as an insert. But I'm inviting everyone to do a couple of stanzas and then we'll get this out to the world and folks can add to this and someday pirate groups all over the world can be chanting these stanzas, along with ones that they've written, to celebrate the modern life of a pirate! On the other hand, if this is not something that the group doesn't want to include, I can live with that. Read it and we'll discuss: A Pirate’s Life for Me Gather around me tars and gobs, We’ll talk of faires from sea to sea, You can sell wieners and you can sell nuts, But it’s a pirate’s life for me! When you go the fair, everyone’s there, From knights to foot infantry. There are fairies and imps and nobles and rogues, But it’s a pirate’s life for me! Some people go and cheer the joust, Others the winches to see, But I’d rather swagger from tavern to pub, It’s a pirate’s life for me! Sweat out yer day in yer hoops and skirts, Prance around in yer noble finery, But give me a tricorn’, boots and slops, It’s a pirate’s life for me! I have no problem with you wearing a sword, Unless it’s bigger than thee, But give me a cutlass and me old leather belt, It’s a pirate’s life for me! Nobles and lords have a standard to keep, And must drink in their own company, But a pirate can drink with the high and the low: It’s a pirate life for me! Don’t get us wrong; this is only a song, And we don’t mean to offend thee. But just like we told you, a thousand times over, It’s a pirate’s life for me! Blackbead and Captain Jane Jasper ©2008

On June 21, 2008, the Brotherhood of the Gulf will have a huge get-together on the grounds of Middlefaire in Hillsboro, Texas. The party starts at 2:00 PM and will go on as long as people want to hang out (that includes being able to camp onsite for Saturday night.) There will be live music, pirate poetry readings, soft drinks, and a chance to audition for the cast of Middlefaire for the coming season. We’ll also be talking about the future of the Brotherhood: what should the articles say? Do we want to charge dues and then put out a newsletter? There will also be a Pirate Olympics that you can compete in for amazing prizes! The Olympics will include PYRAT (pirate bingo), Bluff, Pirate Trivia, and Captain Morgan’s Revenge. The prizes will be donated by Blackbead’s Treasure Chest. Bring something to eat with enough to share and it’s BYOB for alcohol. I plan on putting some meat on a grill and making some boucan and I’ll have enough to share. The purpose of the Brotherhood of the Gulf is going to be manifold – 1) This is going to be a group that is designed to have fun together: trips to PyrateCon, Pirates in Paradise, and other pirate festivals, a group of people to hang out with when you go to Scarborough Faire, or TRF, or LRF, or ANY of the local faires like Middlefaire (the groups home port), or Scarlet’s or Lawton, etc. 2) This is going to be a group that can provide a group of reenactors when called for – sword fighting and the use of gunpowder weapons will be discussed as will the presentation of a living history setting for the public when called for. 3) This is going to be a group that entertains as well. We want to be able to put together lane acts for Middlefaire (and elsewhere as we grow) that can perform for the public (for one, Captain Jasper and I are talking about putting together an act that includes a simulated knife fight.) 4) Finally, this is a group that is going to undertake charitable events when possible. I already have experience with Relay for Life and there are others out there with similar experiences. Can you imagine a group of us dressed in full garb doing one of the Heart Association walks? The interest that we would draw for this fantastic cause? So, come out and get to know us – once you have, you will want to be a part of this effort!

Ahoy, mates! We're up to 40 pages! I recently spoke with a photographer at the Lawton Renaissance Festival who is interested in placing some photos for our consideration. I want to reiterate, we will all agree on the content of the final book before it goes out for print. If anyone doesn't like the final cut then we vote and the majority rules. If anyone objects to photgraphs as an art form it might be best for you to speak up now, however. So, just let me know by email. If you are silent, I'm going ahead with the book as is. This is truly going somewhere, me hearties! Blackbead

Happy Father's Day from Blackbead!! In honor of all of ye male pirates who have children: Dad, Ye Be Me Favorite Pirate Dad, ye be me favorite pirate: Ye taught me all I need to know, From how to keep me cutlass clean To where the Trade Winds blow. You showed me how to tie me kerchief So that it stays upon me head, And you taught me how to use a knife To pick the weevils from me bread. You schooled me in me navigatin’, How to guide me ship by a star, And ye taught me how to talk like a pirate: When it’s really correct to say “arrrr!” Dad, ye be me favorite pirate, And there’s only one thing more to say: Not only do I thank ye with all of me heart But I’ll join your crew any day! Stephen Sanders ©2008

Mates: We're up to 39 pages! Another thing to think about, what do we want to use for the dedication page? The "working dedication" is "For the pirate in all of us." If you have any suggestions, pass them on to me. See you in Lawton! Blackbead

The Rose and Crown The Thistle and Crown The Dancing Dolphin The Blue Dragon Inn The Hole (Named for the landing spot that became one of the first settlements on Barbados.) The Oar Over the Door Tell yer mate, best o' luck! Blackbead

"Hi, Cutter."

Ahoy, mates! The current working title of the book is Tales of the Sweet Trade: Original Poetry For and By Pirates. Looks like we may have someone wanting to put in a short story, which I have no heartburn with so long as we all agree that it is good. I've told him that the work can go into the mix but it's got to be voted on by everyone involved and unless a majority want to put it in then it don't get in! Here is the current list of titles: 1. Raising Black Flags 2. Piratry 3. The Soul of the Pirate 4. A Pirate’s Soul 5. Songs of the Sea 6. Ocean Songs 7. Pirate Shanties 8. Pirates, Privateers and Poets 9. Pirate Poetry 10. Raising the Black Flag 11. Pirate Odes 12. Songs in the Key of “P” 13. Singing with the Devil 14. Dead Men Tell These Tales 15. Pirate Treasures 16. Broadsides 17. Pirate Tales 18. Tavern Tales 19. From the Tavern 20. Red Skies at Night (as in “sailor’s delight’) 21. The Sweet Trade 22. Secrets of the Sweet Trade 23. Tales of the Sweet Trade 24. The Middle Watch 25. Tales for the Dog Watch 26. Songs of the Dog Watch 27. Pirates, Scalawags and Poets 28. Gee-Gaws, Pretties and Swag 29. Gawgews, Swag and Plunder 30. Fireships 31. Dunnage 32. Fo’c’sle Tales 33. Songs from the Fo’c’sle 34. Lying Ahull 35. Squared Away 36. Pyrate Reflections: Inspirations of Pyrate Life at Sea 37. Pirate Musings 38. Running Out the Guns 40. Poets of the Sea All of these could have subtitles; something like “Original Poetry By and For Pirates.” Keep writing! Blackbead

m'Lady: "Green" water is water that has stayed in the barrels TOO long and has gone stagnant. It's the result of too many tiny organisms floating around in the water and can result in an unhealthy situation. "Small beer" actually stays drinkable in kegs longer than water and so you would see provisioning lists aboard ship with more kegs of small beer than there would be water because the kegs of water wouuld have to be refreshed more often. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buccaneer is a great place to start for more information on this form of cooking. See also http://dictionary.die.net/buccan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbacoa definitely indicates that this method is more Mexican in origin but I believe that the method grew out of the same ideas. Hope this helps! Blackbead

I'll add them both to the list, m'Lady! The book, as currently planned, will be an 8.5 x 8.5 square. I've used this layout in two other books and they both turned out looking nice. That also keeps the price fairly reasonable. I would suggest that you go ahead with whatever dimensions that you want and then get a digital picture of it and send it to me as a .jpg. I'll fit it to the page and give you a credit line. You can also provide me with whatever title you wish to use or a caption if you prefer. Your name, the real one or your alias if you prefer, with a copyright symbol and the year will go next to the image. By the way, will everyone please provide me with the name they wish to use, a one paragraph bio, and an email address to send the completed .pdf file to. We still have LOTS of time, I don't want to have it print ready till the middle of this coming October, but it never hurts to go ahead and get this data into a file somewhere. If we want to, I can compile this early (as soon as we get to 60 pages), get it in a .pdf file and send it out so we can all have a better idea of what the book is going to look like. Steve Sanders AKA Blackbead blackbeads_tc@yahoo.com

Here's a couple: 1. Salmagundy - check the web, there's a host of recipes out there and this makes a great full meal on a hot summer day. Think of it as a salad with roast meats, perhaps some tuna fish, and lots of olives and boiled eggs. 2. Do a mixed grill of pork, chicken and beef and have it with baked sweet potatoes. "Buccaneers" comes from a style of roasting/smoking meat that 'somewhat' preserved it over a "boucan" or "barbacoa." This is also supposed to be the origin of the term "barbecue." Swwet potatoes are indigenous to the Caribbean and are great with butter and brown sugar! 3. You can serve hardtack, salted beef, and "green" water but I don't recommend it! Bon appetit'! Blackbead

Hmmm, an interesting idea! I'll put it on the list and the "crew" will have a chance to vote for it! Thank ye, kindly, Sir!

Mates: We be up to 34 pages! No artwork, yet, but so far Red Bess has put up one poem, Rumba has three in the hold, and I got about six. We're doing fine since I don't need to get it all together till the end of September. It's coming together, my friends, and it's going to be great! Blackbead

My latest piece: Farewell, Brave Lion I took you from a Spanish captain, Back in seventeen-oh-two, I knew it was your maiden voyage: Your sails were still brand new. You handled like an Irish racehorse, Headstrong but steady and true, And with the slightest breezes There was nothing I couldn’t ask of you. You managed fourteen cannon Without giving up a knot And in every fight but the last one You gave better than you got. It was my mistake to fight a carrack With a twenty-four gun array And now you lie forever ‘Neath the blue of Santiago Bay. It’s been years since I first boarded you, Now your sailing days are through, Your guns have all gone silent: I finally asked too much of you. Stephen Sanders ©2008 Enjoy, Blackbead

How many times must I say it, mates? It be "BlackBEAD," NOT "BlackBEARD"! For the life of me, I can't think of why they want to make a movie about me, even being such a handsome, successful, manly, personage that I am! Oh, well; I have no problem with Butler playing me but they might have to find another more dashingly good-looking, buff, ripped, cut, vision of manhood to make it truely believable. Ahh, sadly, 'tis true that Hollywood has a way of changing history to their liking! More likely someone like Drew Carey will wind up getting this plum role! Blackbead