Here is my attempted transcription of another fine poem from Joe Charles. I couldn't decipher part of a line in the second stanza. Joe's poems are not available on the Net. Corrections please.

TO THE TALL SHIPS
(J.Charles/P.Garland)

Chorus
Let me dream of tall ships from lands I’ll never know
Rollin’ down from London town to the Roaring Forties blow
From coral sands to the awful lands of endless ice and snow
Let me dream of tall ships from lands I’ll never know

I remember Lyttelton like a half forgotten dream
When still the great tall sailing ships were anchored in the stream
When all along the rugged shore wild shouts and laughter rang
While the ragged rascals hauled away to the rough old song they sang

When they swaggered down the street to every smoky bar
If they passed you up the wind, they smelt of rope and tar
And sitting in the sunshine with the …..??   verandah rail
They kept the youngsters all wide-eyed with many a long-spun tale

Or down along the waterfront, the smoky fussing train
Brought trucks of wool and tallow, hides and flax and grain
To keep the donkeys puffing steam and the lumpers on the run
While out of the reeking holds, exotic cargoes ton by ton

Chorus

The last time I saw Lyttelton through a haze of smoke and steam
There were no tall ships at the quay or anchored in the stream
No more ragged ruffians who smelt of rope and tar
No burly bearded captain with a reeking black cigar

Only the great grim ships of steel, whining, groaning cranes
Stinking, roaring motor trucks and streamlined diesel trains
Only the seagull’s lonely call and the grey and smoggy sky
To steer a dream of sail not steam and the days so long gone by

So dream with me of tall ships …

Youtube clip

--Stewie.