The Porthleven Morgawr by Gary Murrell

'The Porthleven Morgawr' is an illustrated poem based in Cornwall's Mounts Bay and written for ages 9 to 90 years old. An ancient legend tells of a mythical creature said to inhabit Cornwall's seas. Described as huge, anywhere between twenty and fifty feet, its very appearance has left witnesses awe struck. Variously described as snake like, turtle shelled or hump backed it has appeared to be a living fossil. Fishermen claim to have found Morgawr either tangled in their nets or rearing menacingly above their boats but despite this there are no records of any human having been harmed by the creature. Sadly, however, some reports say Morgawrs have met a dreadful fate, beaten to death by sailors' oars or slaughtered on rocks. Thoroughly researched, with reference to eye-witness accounts of sightings and through newspaper articles from over two centuries, the poem conjures the atmosphere and mystery of the waters around Porthleven, the most southerly port in mainland Britain.