SHIPS IN BOTTLES (source)

A couple of weeks ago at a birthday-party of a friend of mine. I met his brother-in-law. This man happened to be a singer in a Chanty-choir (they sing old and new sailors songs) in Schagen in Noond-Holland (a province in the NE of the Netherlands). During our conversation we came to speek [sic] about bottleships. Than he told me that they had a song about bottleships in their repertoire. I told him that it would nice to publish the text in Welkom aan Boond. He sent me the text. Maybe You are interested in putting it in your magazine as well. Here it Is. Enjoy it. I did! Met vriendelijke flessegroet (with kind botleship greetings) Hans de Haan

Refrain:
Little ships that sail in bottles,
who can never feel the wind.
Little ships with glass horizons,
put there by the hand of man.

Though narrow necks are found on bottles,
see inside the sails unfurled
Spreading masts and yards so lofty,
in this tiny curving world.

Spidery rigging blocks and pulleys,
detailed flags fly high above.
The old sailors lasting tributes,
to the vessels that they loved.

Many hours of skill and patience,
go into the craft you see.
To remind him of her glory,
when she sailed upon the see.

When the sailor he stops sailing,
than he has a lot of time.
So he makes poetry in bottles,
like the ancient mariners rime.

So salute the ships in bottles,
and the hands that built them there.
Though it started as a pastime,
it's a beauty we can share.