THE DRUNKEN SAILOR Cyril Tawney Behold the animated sack With a mudstained cap stuck flat aback A creature draped in the garb of Jack A-swaying in the doorway Observe the vomit-laden shoes The legacy of lavish booze A mixture of assorted stews Displaying in the doorway And note the glassy eyes that peer In vain pursuit of image clear The whole assembly far and near Surveying from the doorway Perceive the fingers, bloodless white That clutch the varnished woodwork tight Without their aid their owner might Be laying in the doorway But see, with valour born of drink Security is thrown at stake As comes, at last, the grave mistake Of straying from the doorway Watch now, the big be-gatored four Are, from his resting place, the floor, The guardian of our island's shore, Conveying through the doorway They'll take him to the cabin plain With a padlocked door, but all in vain Next payday he'll appear again A-swaying in the doorway Regards Derek (Sky sailor)
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