And hides a youthful tear
As the captain puffs upon his pipe
And reaches for a beer.
The sailors and the enginemen
Gladly leave their places
With brine and sweat and grime and oil
Concealing weary faces.
And the ropes groan round the bollards
Like an ageing mermaid's song:
'If you survive another voyage,
You'll be a man, my son.'