Salty Sailor Man
I once was a salty sailor man.
I sailed the seas on an old tin can.
I felt the wind and tasted brine.
A thousand ports I left behind.
I rode the waves like Poseidon’s own.
I made the open seas my home.
I fought the storms upon the sea.
And cursed them while they howled at me.
I walked her decks in my dungarees.
And my chambray shirt was fine with me.
My blue ball cap upon my head.
Boone-dockers clunking as I tread.
The ship was steel and so were we.
Manly men upon the sea.
A destroyer is made to ride the foam.
To drive and shoot and then be gone.
We worked and played and earned our rank.
While the engines screamed as we ran flank.
From sea to sea and port to port.
Far above King Triton’s courts.
We laughed and joked of Davey Jones.
We rolled and tossed while the rigging moaned.
We felt the sea go quiet and calm.
And slept so sound without a qualm.
But like all things there came an end.
And my old tin can brought me home again.
I once was a salty sailor man.
I sailed the seas on an old tin can.
Now those days are far behind.
But I keep them alive in the back of my mind.
©James L Frady 1/18/2024
