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The Tridents of the Tritons

The armies of the mermaids move to kill the Kraken's hoards
    And sweep away the hydra from the seas.
To save the souls of sailors at the calling of their Lords
    And to put the hearts of fishwives at their ease.
The tridents of the tritons make a phalanx you should fear
And behind them ride the swordfish, who can spit you like a spear.

Across the mighty oceans range the battles hard and grim
    And the gods avoid the clashes as they may.
Though Neptune feigns indifference he'll change upon a whim
    And the Zephyrs whip the waves up in their play.
The tridents of the tritons make a phalanx you should fear
And behind them ride the swordfish who can spit you like a spear.

Far out and far from safety many ships are stuck in storm,
    The battles making whirlpools of the deep.
Through the skillfullness of sailors and the actions they perform,
    A fleet of ships are saved from endless sleep.
The tridents of the tritons make a phalanx you should fear
And behind them ride the swordfish who can spit you like a spear.

At last the Kraken's cornered in the deepest trench of all,
    Where the final stand of evil will be short.
With the last of all his henchmen, who have hastened to his call,
    The monster of the deep is brought to naught.
The tridents of the tritons make a phalanx you should fear
And behind them ride the swordfish who can spit you like a spear.

Now you'll rarely see a mermaid (though I know of one or two)
    And the tritons only beach on distant isles
But if you are fond of sailing or a cruise is just for you,
    You should always greet these heroes with your smiles.
The tridents of the tritons make a phalanx you should fear
And behind them ride the swordfish who can spit you like a spear.

In a list

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 38 of 38
  • Fun fantasy, very well told, almost like a tongue twister in the refrain.

  • sooo good. Damn Jeff, why didn't i see this before...... I've been neglecting your poetry.! This is a fine example of the way fantasy should be written. . And congrats on the silver & goldies .

    ~Meg


  • PerVirtuous gold member
    August 7

    Edit | Reply
    This is, perhaps, the best poem I have seen written by you. I am not a fan of the repeating lines in this particular poem, although I don't hate them. I simply do not see where they add greatly to it. It is a well written storyline and a delightful meter.
  • Wow. This is simply superb! Michael is absolutely correct, Kipling would have loved this. Truly a battle where this trio with secretive backing drowns the demon.

    This is precise and excellent writing my fellow poet and so deserving of every gold adornment it receives. Wonderful work.

  • Very cool. I like the imagery and rhyme you used. Thanks for the entry and good luck!!!
  • Eusebius
    August 2

    Edit | Reply

    Bravo!

    Oh, wonderful and magnificent! Kipling would love this poem, I do for certain! Rousing and potent stuff! A thousand "bravos"! Excellent! Bravo.. Bravo!!


    • cricketjeff gold member
      August 2
      Edit | Reply
      You are too kind, but I was more than a little pleased with myself for the refrain and I have fallen in love with the form
  • Well that spotlight hit the right place. This is fantastic. The form and rhyme are done with great skill and the dictin is very nice. The adventure itself is thrilling and captivating and the end, with its words of mindful wisdom, is perfectly fitting to the piece. A grand poem! Peace


  • malmadre gold member
    August 1
    Edit | Reply
    Flawless!


  • CarissaHailea
    August 1

    Edit | Reply
    This is wonderfully written, and it's an honor to be able to read it! Such vivid imagery, and I can only hope to write half as good as you some day. I'll be looking to read more by you. I can't get over how spectacular this is,

    Just wow.

  • Amera gold member
    August 1

    Edit | Reply
    I don’t know how I missed this when you wrote it. I love it! The rhyme and meter that only serves to intensify the fantastic fantasy imagery. I can easily see why it’s wearing all the gold jewelry.

    Love,
    Amera♥


  • NooNiThEWitcH
    August 1

    Edit | Reply
    Interesting, I enjoyed reading it.
    But what form is that, consistent rhyme and repeating the last two lines in every stanza??

    Well done and good job. And Congrats on the 2 Gold trophies!
    Keep on writing,

    Nooni

    • cricketjeff gold member
      August 1
      Edit | Reply
      Form, hmmmm
      The first four lines of each stanza are in what could be called "extended ballad measure", alternating heptameter and pentameter, but rather than just continuing like that I have made each quatrain into a sixain by adding a refrain of two heptameter lines. A few of the lines are a little naughty and sneak in a spare syllable but that's because I always go by the sound not by accurate counting, if it doesn't sound good aloud then I go in and count to see if that is why.
      I don't think it has a name because I don't know anyone else who has written it

  • Fourthaxis
    August 1

    Edit | Reply
    Awwwww....awesome write! What a fantastic battle! The end was like the one in a literary novel.
    You are so good with form poetry, I am going to add you as a favourite and hope to write like this one day!!

  • Vozhd
    August 1

    Edit | Reply
    Another one I have come to today via the "spotlight" facility. I can see why this is a crowd-pleaser, although, for me, the final verse is a little anti-climactic. Good poem nevertheless.


    • cricketjeff gold member
      August 1
      Edit | Reply
      I was unsure about the ending but I thought I didn't really have enough detail to build to a big battle and end on a bang, and I love whimpers
  • trekkergirl
    August 1

    Edit | Reply
    This reminds me of a book I once read called Clash of the titans. I believe it was also a movie. Good job. trekkergirl


  • naena
    July 25

    Edit | Reply

    Bravo!

    Wow! I was very caught up in this tale you wove. The rhyming was excellent and I especially loved the two repeating lines....BEWARE the swordfish! Thanks for sharing! I can see why this won the gold! Elaina


  • darell silver member
    July 24

    Edit | Reply

    Fascinating!

    A very exciting piece that takes you
    on a journey of a life time. There were
    so many things going on in this poem.
    The sea alone is intriguing. Filled with
    so much mystery and danger. Its still the
    last untamed exploration of man.
    Many have lost their lives trying to conquer
    the vast and endless sea/ocean. Thank you for
    a marvelous sea tale. Bravo

  • PerVirtuous gold member
    July 24
    Edit | Reply
    Hey! That's not half bad. You done pretty good with this. Have some bunnies.

  • Nicely rhymed. Fantastic imagery. The gold trophy was well deserved.


  • Riftkin gold member
    July 22

    Edit | Reply
    Now that is a tale.. one that reads outloud
    better than in the head...

    I love the rhyme for it adds to it.

    This is awesome and I love it..
    thank you for entering.

    Riftkin


  • babyqueen58
    July 22
    Edit | Reply

    Very good

    This poem opens your eyes to the undersea world. I really enjoyed reading this poem. Great job!


  • NurseyPoo
    July 22

    Edit | Reply
    Nice entry for the contest. Wonderfully written in true form. I could feel the words you wrote. I love the idea of mermaids hiding from the non-believers.Good luck and pen on...

    . Rewarded 4

  • sgking123
    July 22

    Edit | Reply

    excellent

    Now you'll rarely see a mermaid (though I know of one or two)
    And the tritons only beach on distant isles
    But if you are fond of sailing or a cruise is just for you,
    You should always greet these heroes with your smiles.
    The tridents of the tritons make a phalanx you should fear
    And behind them ride the swordfish who can spit you like a spear.

    wonderful lines.Now we know where all mermaids have gone.Thanks for sharing.please visit my portfolio and offer comemnts.

  • rollingzen
    July 22
    Edit | Reply
    well done


  • Sue Cardwell gold member
    July 22

    Edit | Reply
    This is outstanding and full of life, it's a piece that I can imagine being read out loud on stage by Brian Blessed, now that would be worth hearing, you and Brian together...WOW!
    Great story...very imaginative and loved the repeating refrain...Well Done!!!!!!

    Sue


  • Ho74pp1eP1e
    July 22

    Edit | Reply

    Bravo

    This is a fantasy of so many myths, I just love everything about it, the wording, the flow. Great stuff, wonderful read.

  • ecrivain01 silver member
    July 21

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    A totally delightful ...

    excursion into fantasy. Hard to see how you improve on this (other than punctuating it, of course).


    • cricketjeff gold member
      July 21
      Edit | Reply
      Just for you, I shall have a go

      I think the refrain is amongst the best things I've ever written, it sounds so wonderful said aloud.

  • Dalaney gold member
    July 21

    Edit | Reply
    What a story! Now my imagination is spinning...an army of mermaids...swordfish spitting me like a spear...hmmmm, I wonder what I could do with this..................L


  • Thomas Scott gold member
    July 21

    Edit | Reply

    Boffo!

    (you're right ... very handy word for verdicts)
    This is wonderful but didn't you have it made into a movie?

1 - 38 of 38