Quahoggers and sea monsters abound in a new illustrated book from a local artist
Old Salty Dog: A Rhode Island Folk Tale is a story about a craggy old quahogger who braves the wild unknown, encountering all the great sea creatures of myth, all to bring us back clams for stuffies and chowder. The book, by local artist Seth McCombs, will be printed through a Kickstarter campaign. The original artwork is currently on display at Providence's Chez Pascal (960 Hope St.). "This is a story for the quahoggers and lobstermen, for the kids who fill buckets with crabs and snails at the beach, for everyone who has ever looked out across the waves from the shores of the Ocean State," says McCombs, adding, "Hope you dig it." Enjoy this sneak preview.
Seth McCombs
Old Salty Dog steered his boat through the fog.
Though his compass spun ’round and though most men might drown,
He pressed on, in search of quahogs.
Seth McCombs
Like mythic figures of old he went forth, so bold
To battle great beasts so that others might feast
Without braving the wet and the cold
Seth McCombs
Out past the sound, beyond the known fishing grounds,
He encountered such things as no man has seen
With no thought to turning around
Seth McCombs
The great Sea Serpent of legend posed the Old Dog three questions
The first answer was "3" and the second was "B"
The third answer, no one dares mention
Seth McCombs
At the end of the day, when it was time to get paid
He hauled his catch up the dock to the fish mongers shop
To see what quahogs were fetching that day
Fish mongers brow furrowed, in his cash box he burrowed
He said, "Today you're in luck! This nets you 17 bucks!"
Salty Dog just said, "See you tomorrow"
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