The Skipper’s decision
In the old days
They’d come aboard
Worse for wear,
I suppose you could say.
Nothing worse
Than a hungover crew,
Mardy from the offset,
So I said,
Lads,
No drinking on board.
Which makes the first
Day or so
Particularly uncomfortable,
But they sober up.
They go through that zone.
Early in the morning,
Gliding past the stone breakwater,
They’re very quiet.
And I am too, I suppose.
Coffee is OK.
Whatever else they’d need
To put a layer between themselves
And the world.
Robert Garnham 