Yo-ho=ho! What a relief to have a day off from entrail -gazing. Trying my hand at writing a sea shanty was a joy from start to finish. Plus it gave me the opportunity to expunge some of the trauma suffered during the long-ago voyage referred to in the poem. I am not a good sailor!
Day 10: Sea shanty (after Wellerman shanty)
That day when we put out to sea
From Iona’s shores so wild and free;
To Staffa’s cliffs puffins to see
We gathered on the quay.
Soon may the Staffa boat come,
With plenty room for everyone,
Three hours on when the voyage is done
We’ll grab our guts and go (bleurk!).
When waiting on the gangway we
Were three pilgrim groups from the Abbey;
and Bishop’s House, plus youth group see
We’re all set for the off
Soon may the Staffa boat come,
With plenty room for everyone.
Three hours on when the voyage is done
We’ll grab our guts and go (bleurk!)
So now assembled on the deck
To get good views it was our spec
Of waters calm and wild birds (check),
Binoculars in hand
Soon may the Staffa boat come,
With plenty room for everyone .
Three hours on when the voyage is done
We’ll grab our guts and go (bleurk!).
Our boat set off, the engines roared
As eagerly the view we sought .
The best that Scotland could afford
A song was on our lips .
Soon may the Staffa boat come,
With plenty room for everyone .
Three hours on when the voyage is done
We’ll grab our guts and go (bleurk!).
As swiftly over the waves we flew
A couple of us were feeling blue.
Stiff upper lips we kept so true,
While longing for a brew.
Soon may the Staffa boat come,
With plenty room for everyone .
Three hours on when the voyage is done
We’ll grab our guts and go (bleurk!)
As Fingal’s Cave it hove in sight,
The captain boomed out o’er the mic:
“Too rough to land, we’ll hover right
Still have a brilliant view.”
Of puffins, porpoise, seals and whales
But some were reaching for the pails;
the brave ones retched over the rail,
The rest dived for the hold.
Soon may the Staffa boat come etc….
To stay below was a mistake
But misery loves to share its ache;
In silence grim -no chat, no craic,
Don’t talk to me, you fool!
I looked up from my paper bag
A wondrous sight, no need to nag ;
The youth group hunched , no cause to brag,
In shades of green and grey
Soon may the Staffa boat come etc…
We sped back over the ocean brave
With distant views of puffins made;
Like bouncy beach balls on the waves
—————-any suggestions of what to put here?
When landed safe upon the Isle
Iona’s duties called us still:
Loo rota , kitchens, wobble while
‘Two Soups’ it was our song…
Soon may the Staffa boat come,
With plenty room for everyone.
Three hours on when the voyage is done
We’ll grab our guts and go (bleurk!)