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Abe
Senior Member

since 2003-05-28

Posts 694
Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end!

0 posted 2003-09-19 02:07 PM

BOATBUILDERS

Born of dreams, hopes and schemes,
Of blood and sweat and tears,
Of all the money earned
Hard work for many years.

Buying her piece by piece,
Then nail, bolt and screw.
See Her grow like a child --
Loved almost as much, too.

She'll freeze you in the winter,
She'll leak and make you wet,
And in the summertime
You sit around and sweat.

Seems an eternity
Before you see Her float.
I guess you know by now
I'm talking 'bout a boat.

You learn all of the terms,
Like forward, stern and aft.
Up/down's below, topside
Its' not beer you call draft.

Your bed will be a berth
That's cramped and much too small.
Walk around hunched over,
If you should be too tall.

There's no floors to walk on
The ceiling is the deck.
The toilet's called the head
What else did you expect?

You cook in the galley
A stove that rocks and rolls.
You read charts not a map
To find out where She goes.

To the left is to port
Starboard is to the right.
Learn to read a compass
To know the stars at night.

Find each nook and cranny
On deck and down below
To store all of the gear
(More gear than room, you know)

Live on her at dockside
Another year or two
You still can't take Her out
There's still a lot to do.

Finally! It is time
For you to hoist the sail
With all your stores aboard
You've driven the last nail.

At last you pull away
From that too well-known dock
You think of all the hours --
Time you've worked 'round the clock.

Of memories and friends
Left there behind in port
Realizing that your stay
Really was quite short.

But now there's a new world
For you to see and know
You can go where you want
As long as the winds blow.

Del "Abe" Jones