When th’ dawn is jest a-breakin’,
An’ th’ runnin’ lights are dim,
An’ th’ risin’ sun is makin’
Streaks scross th’ ocean’s rim;
When th’ mornin’ light is shiftin’
From a kind of dusty gray,
An’ th’ ship is sorta driftin’
In a lazy kind of way,
An’ a feller wakes up shakin’
With a sea breeze down his neck,
An’ his knees s’ cold they’re achin’
Cause his blanket’s half on deck;
An’ th’ sunshine comes a-peepin’
Through the gun-port from th’ sea —
Then he knows there’s no more sleepin’,
For they’re blowin’ reveille.
Then th’ gang is all a-stirrin’,
An’ th’ whole berth deck’s alive;
All a-buzzin’ an’ a-whirrin”
Like a capsized wild bee-hive;
Then it’s roll your hammock snappy
An’ jump into workin’ white,
Though y’ won’t be feelin’ happy
Till y’ knows th’ chow’s in sight —
Then it’s out on deck f’ cleanin’,
An’ it’s all hands on th’ swabs —
An’ it ain’t no time f’ spleenin’,
Nor a-huntin’ round f’ jobs —
All y’ hear is jest t’ swashin’
Of th’ water, an’ th’ gring
Of the holystones, an’ sloshin’
Of the swabbers on behind.
Then o’ sudden comes th’ clatter
Of th’ mess gear far away,
An’ th’ smell o’ fryin’ batter,
An’ th’ coffee finds its way;
Then it’s dry ‘er down, an’ rustle
All th’ cleanin’ gear an’ hose,
An’ it takes a wash an’ hustle
In b’fore th’ mess call goes;
O, there’s somethin’ that’s worth tellin’
When y’ tumble out at dawn,
With y’ shipmates all a-yellin’
After reveille has gone;
An’ I’ll tell y’ mates there’s livin’
When th’ gang gets up at sea,
An’ sometime y’ll feel like givin’
Half you own, for reveille.
(Burt Franklin Jenness)
More Poetry from Burt Franklin Jenness:
Burt Franklin Jenness Poems based on Topics: Light, Sense & Perception, Laziness, Water- The Black Watch (Burt Franklin Jenness Poems)
- The Flare-Back (Burt Franklin Jenness Poems)
- The Lure Of The East (Burt Franklin Jenness Poems)
- The Bedford Nell (Burt Franklin Jenness Poems)
- Signal Bill (Burt Franklin Jenness Poems)
- Bumboats (Burt Franklin Jenness Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Light Poems, Sense & Perception Poems, Water Poems, Laziness PoemsBased on Keywords: chow, shakin, workin, risin, hammock, shipmates, blowin, reveillé, driftin, achin, capsized
- The Jamestown Anniversary Ode (James Barron Hope Poems)
- The Demon Of The Study (John Greenleaf Whittier Poems)
- For The Carrier Of The Mirror. 1826 (John Gardiner Calkins Brainard Poems)
- Hymn To Light (Abraham Cowley Poems)
- Upon The Death Of, Mr. Addison; Inscrib'd To The Earl Of Warwick (Nicholas Amhurst Poems)