Brightness slips behind the lips
of grey swell and black cloud
and the ice wind rises.
So I submit, again, to this old master's
callused hands and foul mouth
as tops'l snaps, stays'l shivers
mains'l claps and me boom swings wanton
tearing at me sheets.
And all is twist and roll,
battered to starboard and port
for'ard and aft
as wind screams in the dark
mast and decking groan
while down below are frightened boys
in the charge of experienced hands.
So I submit, again, to this old master's
callused hands and foul mouth
as tops'l snaps, stays'l shivers
mains'l claps and me boom swings wanton
tearing at me sheets.
And all is twist and roll,
battered to starboard and port
for'ard and aft
as wind screams in the dark
mast and decking groan
while down below are frightened boys
in the charge of experienced hands.
"The Codsmack" first appeared in Staple magazine
