The Rowan Canticles is an epic poem written in doggerel tetrameter. In other words, although each line contains eight syllables and rhymes with other lines nearby, like Shakespeare, I’ve used enjambment (one line spilling over into the next) here and there, especially in dialog sections. Mostly, though, I’ve striven for iambic tetrameter, which makes for a nice rhythm. You’ll notice that couplets, quatrains and other rhyme schemes refresh with each long Canticle. The old school language of The Rowan Canticles can be dense, but hey, it’s fun and it fits the fantasy.

Each week I will post a fresh Canto here at Substack, adding to the story. You’ll find ninety-nine Cantos in all contained in the three Canticles. The work is 13,000 lines long, about the length of Homer’s The Odyssey.

A highly intelligent but murderous pirate steals a dark sloop to complete his mysterious life’s mission. That The Waistgold’s wheel is encrusted with gems and her decks are fine parquetry, well, that’s stunning enough. But when the hard-swearing Phineas Krull learns that The Waistgold cannot sink—even when upside down in the sea—he marvels at this ship’s magical construction. It’s a wonder. But who built this strange craft? It’s only after he discovers a blood-soaked journal and learns about the young queen who built The Waistgold—and that she’s probably coming after him–that his wonder turns to worry.

Written in pirate patois, Voyage of the Waistgold is Odds Bodkin’s original story written in pulsing doggerel rhyme. Quite profane, it’s told from the pirate’s first-person view. Somewhere between Jonathan Swift’s cutting social commentary and William Burroughs’ drug-addled visions, this at times humorous, at times shocking high fantasy tale is for mature adults only.

18+

Content contains adult themes and expressions. For mature audiences only.