The spirit of the Captain by R W Miller

The waves descended on the ship, Her bulging side had burst,

With Main Mast cracked and rigging limp, the sea had done its worst,

Steady now, Abandon ship, the masters voice was heard

His presence still upon the bridge spread courage with his word.

Time was of the essence, and every crewman knew,

The boats were lowered and crewed and launched, and any boat would do.

Stark panic hunts the fearful men, as each one takes an oar,

Prepared to pull with all his might to get the boat ashore.

But who will be the helmsman, now the captains so remote,

Who will fight the untamed sea in just an open boat'

Each looks to the other, for fear of falling short, It'l take a better man than me to get us into port

This weather beaten sea dog, who knows this watery realm, And knows that everything is lost, if no one takes the helm,

He was not born a leader, and he is frightened too, P'haps the spirit of the captain showed him what to do.

"Heave an oar yer landsmen" he heard his own voice cry, As he turned the bow into the waves that reached up to he sky'

Forty years I've been at sea and I've seen worse that this! Now someone get the bailer, before we get a list.

The cabin boy is sobbing, But I've got to watch that sea So the mites accursed with panic, what's that got to do with me?

But get the lad beside you and win his spirit too You will give him hope and courage and you will give it to the crew

"Get yerself down aft boy and help me with this rudder, and save your sobs till we get home and give them to your mother".

Do you recognise the echo, can't say it was close, He had to use the helmsman's voice, his own was just a ghost,

The wrinkled seamen forced a smile and all of them took note that the helmsman meant to get them home and keep them all afloat.

The oarsmen set a rhythm, and they sang to keep the beat, Till the wind and waves abated, and the storm fell quiet in sleep.

And when the years had passed on by, one man would think again, Of the time he had to take the helm, Amidst the driving rain,

Against the odds, they made it, How? The old man thought he knew, T'was the spirit of the captain, that had helped him see it through.

by R. W. Miller