The Bo'sun's Mate

There's a big beam sea and half a gale.
And the Frigate's Skipper has shortened sail
He is peering under his storm-hat's brim
To see what the Flagship wants of him.

The Skipper is short and the Skipper is stout.
But the Flagship's throwing his signal out,
And she lies, hove to, with her masts so tall,
So the Skipper must board the Admiral.

My word! but the Flagship's rolling there,
With her mainsail up and her mainyard square;
And the Skipper's boat is dancing too.
To the tune of a lusty sea-boat's crew.

So now to the Flagship's side he's come,
But the Flagship's sides they tumble home.
And the climb might fill with doubts and fears
A slim young fellow of half his years.

But, so the Skipper shall take no harm,
There's a "whip" at the Flagship's mainyard arm-
A whip made fast to a bos'un's chair,
And soon the Skipper is seated there.

When the watch on deck have manned the fall
To the long shrill cry of the bo'sun's call.
Why, the watch on deck they haul, and grin.
So the Skipper is hoisted safely in!

And if, to-day, you should go so far
As the bay where the great grey warships are.
And open your eyes and ears so wide
When a Skipper steps up the Flagship's side.

No "whip" you'll see, for there's no mainyard.
But right in front of the Sergeant's guard,
To keep in touch with the old-time state,
Is the stalwart form of the Bo'sun's mate.

No watch on deck to man the fall,
But the long shrill cry of the bo'uns's call
Salutes the Skipper just the same.
To tell him the way that his Fathers came.

Notes:

From The Secret of the Ships, by Admiral Ronald A. Hopwood, published by John Murray, London, UK, © 1918, p. 45.

Marks of Respect. — " Captains . . . coming on board
are to be received by a Sergeant's Guard, the boatswain's
mate piping the side according to the custom of the
service." — Orders for the Officer of the Watch.

Charley Noble