Somewhere in the locks of the Equinox We bumped right into the Arctic, Me and me matey, John. We was near to frizz by the slush and the slizz, For we hadn't our flannels on. Who'd 'a' thought that a tried explorer We could see the Eskimoses, At the comical clo'es we wore. We could hear the bears on the glaciers An' there we stud in our seashore duds The whirl-i-gig Arctic breezes And the ice-pack shook with our sneezes, "Friend John," I yells to me matey, "Stand ready and warp the boat!" But I suddenly found that John was drowned, And me alone and afloat. A DASH TO THE POLE I was chilled to the heart with terror 223 I was chilled to the feet, for I beg to repeat, That I hadn't me flannels on. When all of a dog-goned sudden A peak riz over the sun. I swear on me soul 'twas the Arctic Pole- Then what d'ye think I done, sir, I swung the hand of the compass Till straight to the South points she, And soon I divined that the Pole was behind And me in the open sea. I landed next week at Coney Where I hitched me bark to a post, Out there on the Archipelago, And that is why in summer, When it's most undeniably warm, I dresses in felt and pelican pelt, Which is suitable clo'es for storm. And it's highly correct and proper To start for the Pole like that; But I nevermore goes in me openwork hose And me dinky old Panama hat. Wallace Irwin SOUTH SEA STUFF The Copra soars above the shores Is waiting there for me. The bay is calm, the fronded palm Bends o'er the maid and steeps in shade And if she stands upon the sands And wears that wistful smile Till I appear, I sort of fear She'll be there quite a while. Where tabus roam their island home Or dive through coves to pluck the loaves For days and days a maiden's gaze Is fixed upon the blue That she may mark my white-sailed bark That cleaves the atoll through. I have not met the lady yet, And only wish her well, But none the less I sort of guess She'll wait there quite a spell. 225 SAILOR'S CONSOLATION The paruu droops o'er dusky troops Of aborigines, Who wait to hail the white man's sail They're keen to wed, so we have read, With loving hearts they'll play the parts But if they wait to share my fate Beside the creaming foam, They'll wait in vain - I'll tell 'em plain I'm quite content at home! James J. Montague SAILOR'S CONSOLATION One night came on a hurricane, "A strong nor'wester's blowing, Bill. "Foolhardy chaps that live in towns; "And often, Bill, I have been told How folks are killed, and undone, By overturns of carriages, By fogs and fires in London. We know what risks all landsmen run, Then, Bill, let us thank Providence That you and me are sailors." William Pitt FOUR DEEP-SEA TARS AND ANOTHER Two sailors sat by Mona's pier, Both strangely dressed and rather queer, Said Number One, "What brung us here, By Mona?" Said Number Two, "Me little tale Said Number One to Number Two, The boa; "The ape, the adder, and the skunk, All shared me meals, all shared me bunk, I swum ashore when I was drunk, I'm Noah." As these two freaks thus voiced their woe Beside them suddenly arose, |