A Ship In A Storm

 The sailors cling with whitened knuckles to the rigging,

A fierce gail blows, throwing spray and fears of sinking,

They look to the captain, his jacket torn and open,

They look to the skies, black and full of storm,

The captain cries, "Come on Men – you know the drill,

Pull in the spinacker, shorten the mail sail"

 

A bolder band of sailors, such a storm had never faced,

They pulled on the ropes, together their hearts raced,

"All together men, this storm shall not defeat us"

These men, their captain, would follow to death, 

"I promise a drink to everyman in port tomorrow night"

Bolder and bolder the men went on – their hearts set on the prize.

 

The first mate asked the captain through the teeth of the strongest wind

"Why does she blow so, captain, to show how strong she is?"

"No matey, never, it's shows how much she cares" 

The first mate asked again to hear the captain's reason.

"This perfect storm, this perfect moment, when all our blood is racing,

This is the moment when she turns her face full upon us"

 

"And in her powerful spring-tide eyes, we are powerless to defend,

Our only hope is to hold on tight, grit our teeth and wish for a pleasant end,

Because when she's gone and the sea is flat and there's nothing left to do,

We'll thank the Spring for this storm where she showed us how to live"

"Aye Captain" said the mate, "But first we must survive!"

The captain laughed and cried, "Aye, first we must survive!"