March 10, 2009

  • Break-Up In The Sounds

    Underway's the only way
    a tramping boat can earn its pay
    Can't stay tied up on a stormy day
    in a harbor calm and quiet
    Though it's often prudent to delay
    Our captain says "Boys, let's try it."

    And so we find ourselves westbound
    Bouncing across the rolling sound
    Man-high waves toss the tow around,
    smear the windows with salty rime
    At a toddler's crawl the sun drifts down
    adrenaline rushes slow down time

    There goes a wire, with a spark and a popping!
    Once one goes, with the barges still hopping
    the seaward lashings part, only safety lines stopping
    the tow from falling apart, and ruining our day
    The crew's work is dangerous, but their frenetic coping
    may keep us together; safe water's a mile away

    The waters have calmed, and so have we
    Horn Island is blocking the worst of the sea
    We dry and debrief over mugs of hot coffee
    Petit Bois Pass now behind us, first rough patch of three
    Let's now throw new rigging, replace each broken wire
    Underway's the only way, or go home and retire.



     

     

Comments (4)

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment