the captain's dream

thus perished the captains dream:
ajar, aloof, alas!
listen closely, in you lean
ajar, aloof, alas!

alas the day the boiler pooped
one left a lid ajar
the engineers, aloof alas
were lame upon the bar

bells they tolled and doors they slammed
devastation and dismay!
alas the fire-flaps were jammed
ajar they were to stay

boats were lowered, davits surged
the radios they roared
commanders jumped, from dread they spurged
as they screamed: "all aboard!"

but one small squad upon deck b
was heading for the scene
stumbling, singing, of duty free
but stronger than foreseen!

the flames were tamed the a-squad hushed
aloof the fire-drill's scheme
the taps they flushed, the staff they blushed
thus perished the captains dream!