A Wreck on Tour

a poem about my Dad's time in the Navy

"A Wreck on Tour"

I waited at the docks, on that dark rainy morn

sure of my undertaking, my heart wasn't torn

Lied about my age, as most of us men did

but the evil Hitler was, we surely must get rid

It wasn't long before I saw the ship I was to take

A minesweeper, what a wreck, oh for goodness sake

my heart sunk as I saw what I could have had

"Cmon son, hop on board it's really no that bad"

A voice from on deck reassuring, firm but kind

I felt like saying "I've had a change of mind"

but hop on board I did and little did  I know

This was to be my home for three years or so

The first three days were hell on earth

as I lay, huddled on the birth

Being sick, like I've never been before

the other crew knew the score

"Atkin, you'll be fine in no time" the captain gave a kick

"Oh f**k off sir" I replied, splattered his shoes with sick

He forgave me, of course he did, seen it all before

But when I bad mouthed his writing, he was at the door

Being a scribe for the crew, deciphering letters and such

His bad writing split my head, it really was too much

So time did pass, we sailed this boat to sunnier climes

Our backs were like brown leather and there were other signs

We swam with dolphins, they followed us, friends of the sea

There calming presence, gentle ways, meant a lot to me

We never saw much action, but tales of woe did have

when one of the crew, got his skull cut clean in half

when the hatch door, fell upon his head

Tom trying to push his brains back in, but he was surely dead

When it was a birthday, all rum was given as a gift

and when 21 year old twins celebrated, it happened all so swift

They dehydrated in the sun, full of rum and no-one saw

until it was too late, of course we never told their maw

They died a hero's death and everyone chipped in

and sent money to their mother in a tin

Sad things happened on that wreck, it makes me wonder why

When we joined up, there was a chance that we could die

but not like that, seemed so unfair, left me feeling bad

and for the family of these men obviously very sad

***************

Reviews

[Phill Oz O'fee]

Gritty, emotional and humble composition; I found it both harrowing yet captivating at the same time. A wonderful write, dedicating and remembering the experiences of your father’s navy experiences!

[KT-B]

Thank you for taking the time to read and review - my Dad used to enthral me with his stories, I have a tape recording of him telling me and I felt like I had to share now he's no longer here to tell thee tales himself - glad you enjoyed it my Dad would've been delighted :)