| Skipper
Lid's Boat
T’was Skipper Lids from Apollo Bay that caught
the sailing craze
He turned away the good old horse that served him
many days.
He dressed himself in sailing clothes, my gawd he
looked a laugh,
He hurried off to town and bought a most fantastic
craft.
As he launched it in the bay with the air of a haughty
male,
a trembling Leo at his side said “blimey, can
you sail?”
“See here my man”, said Skipper Lids “On
smooth or stormy seas,
from Queenscliff to Rivoli Bay, there’s none
can sail like me.
I’m good all round at everything as everybody
knows,
although I’m not the one to talk, I hate a man
that blows,
But sailing is my special gift, my chiefest sole delight,
Just ask a Millar can they swim, a Cannon can he fight.
But what I’ll sail while sheets will hold and
the tiller in my hand
I’ll sail this here windblown concern far out
beyond the land”.
T’was Skipper Lids from Apollo Bay that sailed
out from the shore
While in the bilge lying low, poor Leo gazed in awe
He sailed across the starting line, he steered towards
the mark,
And Leo trimmed the sheets and sails, he knew to play
his part.
But ere they’d gone a hundred yards, the wind
began to blow,
and Skipper Lids said to his mate “We’ll
give these blokes a show.”
They rounded at the windward mark the fleet behind
them still
And Skipper Lids roared to all the world, “by
cripes this sports a thrill”
But all the while the seas did build, the water flecked
with foam
And while the Skipper thought of glory – Leo
thought of home.
They headed for the wing mark, the fleet was gaining
ground,
When one gigantic breaker, just spun the boat around.
It drove the gunnels under, it filled it to the rim,
And in this foaming maelstrom, our skipper could not
swim.
“I’m done, my friend” the skipper
cried, “I fear this is the end.”
But Leo was undaunted, and on him we could depend.
He swam to save his skipper, he cursed him something
crude,
Then came a vision splendid – thank gawd it’s
Interlude.
T’was Skipper Lids from Apollo Bay that sought
his own abode,
it’s down beside the ocean just off the Ocean
Road
The boat rests on its trailer, and sailing’s
on the skids,
A horse’s back is good enough, henceforth for
Skipper Lids.
The Ancient Marriner 2004
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