A TALL SHIP TALE

OUR   BOAT  WAS   BLOWN   WEST WARDLY
AGAINST  THE  SEA   SHORE   GRANITE   ROCKS
THERE   WE   RESTED  ON   TENDER   HOOKS

AS THE   WATER   ROSE
THE  WIND   DID  BLOW  AN  AWFUL  NOISE
THE  SOUND OF  DROWNING   CATS

GIANT  RATS  DESCENDED   FROM  ALL  QUARTERS
SMOTHERED  IN   BRANDY  AND   MARMALADE

AS   OUR   STOMACHS    SWAYED
THE  CAPTIAN  LOOKED  ON  DISMAYED

EACH  OF  THE   CREW   GREW   GREENER
THE  COOK   BECAME   MEANER
WITH  A   LARGE   GALLEY   KNIFE -  WE  ALL  BECAME   LEANER

HIS  WIFE   WAS  A   DAB   HAND  AT  MAKING   PASTRY
AS OUR  SHIP  ROLLED--SO  DID  SHE
COVERED  IN  FLOUR THIS  WAS  NOT  OUR   FINEST   HOUR

TO  THE   DECK  WE   FLEW---NAKED  AS  THE   RAIN
OUR   MINDS  ENTANGLED   AND   INSANE

STRIPPED   OF  OUR    DIGNITY
AN  BATTALION  OF  SEAGULLS   TOOK   PITY   ON   US
PICKING   OUR  BODIES   INTO    LITTLE   BITS

THE  COOKS  WIFE  CAME  TO  OUR   RESCUE
SWEEPING   ALL   INTO  A  LARGE   COPPER   DISH
SEASONED  US  WITH  EXOTIC  SPICE
WE   WERE   MARINATED   IN  ALE  AND  RED  WINE

TWO   WEEKS   SLOWLY   PASSED
OUR   SOULS   DECEASED
TOTALLY   PICKLED --OUR  SKIN   A   LIGHT  SHADE  OF  BLUE

SUDDENLY   THE    STORM   WENT   EAST
UN-NERVING     THE  SKY  AND  THE   SEA

BENEATH    THE   DECK   WE   GOT   A   REPRIEVE
NO   LONGER    DEAD
WE   GOT   LEAVE

MAKING    IT    TO   SHORE
WE    WERE   GREETED  BY  THE   ISLANDS   PEOPLE
WITH    OPEN    ARMS    AND    HARPOONS

THE  CHIEF  OF  THE  TRIBE   HAD   JUST  MARRIED   HIS   NINTH   BRIDE

NOW    THE    TIDE   WAS  TURNING
AS   THERE  COOK    BEGAN  STIRRING
OUR   INSIDES    WERE    BURNING

IN  A   LARGE    POT   WE   RESIDED
NO  DECISION  HAD  BEEN   DECIDED

ANOTHER  TWO  WEEKS   PASSED
WE LOOKED  AT  EACH  OTHER  NOT  KNOWING  IF  THIS    WOULD  BE  OUR   LAST

SUDDENLY  THE  WIND  CHANGED  ONCE   AGAIN
BLOWING  A   WICKED   GALE
OUR     SHIP  TOOK     SAIL

THE  WIFE  OF  OUR  COOK  RELEASED THE  ANCHOR
WE    BEGAN  TO   DRIFT

TWO   MORE   WEEKS   PASSED

NOW  THIS   A   TALE--- YOU  MAY  NOT   BELIEVE
AS   I  SIT  BEFORE   YOU