Skeleton Crew
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:24 am
Skeleton CrewGranpa had lures hangin’ from his old fishin’ hatHis hands were calloused from thousands of twist-off capsAnd as we pushed off that night in his leaky boatHe pulled out a jug of Jim Beam while I rowedFor ev’ry swig I had that ol’ pirate had twoAnd told me of a lost ship with a skeleton crewNow Granpa cut his bum teeth out with a whittling knifeHis last one was dug in his gums for dear lifeStarlight shone on that tooth as he spoke deep n low‘bout a sailor’s legend he heard at sea long agoWhen salty dogs die at sea they’re born anewShanghaid by a phantom ship with a skeleton crewNow Granpa’s eyes were windows of wisdom and timeAnd they had more crows feet than a power lineWhen he finished his story those windows closedI’m not sure what happened next cos I must’ve dozedBut a ship cut the mist with its mast touching the moonSkull n bones flag flyin’ above a skeleton crew now back in his day, Granpa used to say that a jug of Jim BeamWas a skeleton key, that set a mind free to sail with its dreamsBut I rowed him ashore with tides of memorieshis bones were laid in a quiet plot by the seaOnce I rowed out with a jug to watch the gullsI saw a ghost with a fishing hat on his skullHis grin was black except for one starlit toothHe said eternity is run by a skeleton crew©2007 Robert George