Well, we're back to Bill Adams for a dose of reality and romanticism:

By Bill Adams
From WIND IN THE TOPSAILS, edited by Bill Adams, published by George G. Harrap & Co., London, UK, © 1931, pp. 158-159.

PACKET RAT

'Ow would you like to be a packet rat,
Wiv no place anyw'ere to 'ang your 'at?
Wiz two bare feet most bleedin' froze an' wet,
Aboard a clipper wiv her tops'ls set?

'Ow would you like to sail the greenin' sea
Wiv a black 'urricane a-blowin' free?
To 'old the w'eel-spokes in your freezin' 'ands,
Footin' the furrows down for foreign lands?

'Ow would you like it when ashore you goes,
To see the folks all drawin' back their clo'es?
Sayin', "'E is a sailor, 'orrid thing!"
'Ow would you like to 'ear that sailor sing?

Singin' upon the sea some tropic night,
Wiv the old moon all shinin' silver bright,
A shipmate's fiddle twinkin' merrily
To cheer the 'earts of sailors far at sea?

'Ow would you like to see a shipmate drown,
Under goosed tops'ls, in the easting down?
To 'ear 'im holler, "'Elp me! 'Elp me, Gawd!"
'Ow would you like that, eh? "Man overboard!"

I'll take my lot! I'll be a packet rat!
I'll shake the tops'ls loose an' wave my 'at!
Give me a ship, my pals wot never knows
W'en death goes walkin' w'ere the night wind blows.

Give me the sea, an' I'll give thanks to Gawd
For ev'ry wave as lops its 'ead inboard,
A-thankin' I'm for breath, an' 'ands to bleed;
I'll be a man, by Gawd! The rat's 'ard creed!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble