A Solid Ship She Is!
(Ode to the merchant ships of WWII and the Merchant Marines
who sailed her...my father was one of them.....)
A solid ship she is, she is
A solid ship she is
As we go sailing into hell,
A solid ship, she is.
We loved her like a mother's womb
For some she would become their tomb
Sailor, can you spare some room?
A solid ship, she is.
Loaded in, like herds of cattle
Forge ahead into the battle
Mend the leaks and fix the rattle
A solid ship, she is.
Torpedo, fire, and Kamikaze
Were the friends of Hitler's Nazi
Thanks to the Lord, merci and grazie
A solid ship, she is.
"Got the goods there, we delivered"
In the wet and cold we shivered
Not a lip to murmur quivered
A solid ship, she is.
She sailed through squall with no disgraces
Liberty ships held all the Aces
Brought us to port in many places,
A solid ship, she is.
Her wooden decks, aflame, assunder
Sailors shocked and stunned with wonder
We cried as darkness took her under
"A solid ship, she is!"
Our mates who fell in Honor's Hall
Within the deep blue ocean's call
In silence grace her decks and all
A solid ship, she is.
As she lies in ocean deep
A silent tomb forever keep
Our mates who drift in endless sleep
A solid ship, she is.
(C) Copyright 2001 L.A. Sanders
Photograph source: John M. Difusco
cvl24bw@msn.com