To Sandford and Francis
of the smack 'Velocity'
Fleas leapt
and lice took flight
when you pinned Henry Pelling
on the deck, at his request
- which he denies.
They crackled and fizzed
in that cleansing heat.
On that birthday fumigation
the scorching, briefly,
cleared the air of salt
when you dipped his head in turps
and lit his hair.
And his screams carried over the water
following the vermin and the fumes.
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