The captain in his long johns was suffering from a terrible remorse
that he foreswore booze for forty days.
Climbed to the mast’s top
and refused to come down
unless I gave him something to drink.
“Can’t do that I have given you a promise not to serve you anything for forty days”
“Did I say nights too?”
“Yes you did” his arms got tired and slowly he slid down.
“Now I’m going to show my party trick” he said
and balanced on the railing
but not before I had slipped a rope around his left ankle.
“I’m a dancing bear,” he shouted
but the ship heaved
and he fell into the sea
and when I hauled him back onboard
he accused me for given the rope too much slack.
Locked him in his cabin with a bible
and for days he disturbed the tropical night with sermons and psalms,
till I in desperation gave in and got him cold beer.
He’s ok now
but when he suffer morning remorse
I always have a beer ready
before he has a chance to make a rash promise.