All Hands on Deck!

All hands on deck !

My crew man spat

And proceeded to respond

But if by chance

His footing slipped

He’d be as good as gone.

He pushed and pulled

To gain the deck

But t’was awash both fore and aft

Not a place for anyone

Especially a cat!

The wind was biting

At my bow

The paddle pushed us on

I shoved my cat

Back down the hatch

And wished he would be gone.

Both paddles full

of whitened sea

My toque down to my brow

The rain came whistling at my eyes

To see if I knew how.                          Sept 30, 1981