George Herbert Clarke, ed. (1873–1953). A Treasury of War Poetry. 1917.
C. Fox Smith
British Merchant Service
O
I met a skipper that I knew, and to him I did say:
“Now what’s the cargo, Captain, that brings you up this way?”
From Sydney to the Skagerack, and Kiel to Callao …
With a leaking steam-pipe all the way to Cali-forn-i-o …
Rails and nails and cotton bales, and sewer pipes and string …
But now I’m through with cargoes, and I’m here to serve the King!
Or hanging out with booby-traps for the skulking submarines,
I’m here to do my blooming best and give the beggars beans!
And what or where I don’t much care, I’ll take what it may be,
For a tight place is the right place when it’s foul weather at sea!”
He’s as hard as a lump of harness beef, and as salt as pickled pork …
And he’ll stand by a wreck in a murdering gale and count it part of his work!
With turpentine and mustard leaves, and poultices and pills …
But he knows the sea like the palm of his hand, as a shepherd knows the hills.
He swears in a score of languages, and maybe talks in two!
And … he’ll lower a boat in a hurricane to save a drowning crew.
And what or where he won’t much care, nor ask what the risk may be …
For a tight place is the right place when it’s wild weather at sea!