The Story of Captain Whisper

The master craved our worshipful acclaim,
Yet, set no course to win his men's respect.
To master’s rank, he'd a rightful claim,
But how his pretensions did run unchecked.

He stood radiant, clad in tropic white,
His skin blushed red by the Gulf’s fierce glare,
And epaulettes glittering gold and bright,
Did gild his image with a prideful air.

The master like an aged goat, would bleat,
To lead his herd, his orders to convey.
Oh, he bleated loud, such was his conceit,
To earn his disrespectful soubriquet.

‘Whisper’ preened like an aged Wanchai whore,
Proud and smiling among his hapless crew,
To satisfy himself with all he saw,
Yet blind was he to fault his retinue.

He ignored the butts of careless smokers,
In spaces marked ‘Danger of Gas - No Smoking’!
He did not see the host of cock-roaches,
That foully seethed within our victualing.

When old Whisper idled, oft did he call,
For ‘Someone! Someone!’ to do his bidding,
Like some fag in an ancient college hall,
Our names expunged amidst his careless bleating.

One day, he bellowed for ‘Someone! Someone!’
With bovine mien, I laboured to comply,
When a nameless voice below retorted,
‘Hold off, man, Hold off, you windy gadfly!’

I stood still upon the deck, transfixed,
He'd damn my innocence to say ‘twas I,
Doubtless, some penance he’d now inflict.
‘Who said that?’ he snarled, his rank defied.

‘Someone! Someone!’ the distant voice did call.
The outraged Whisper now berated me,
And silent, I weathered the coming squall,
Oh, how hard did scream that blowhard banshee!

His fury raged about me as a squall,
Would blast about the ship; he screamed to know,
'Tell me, who is that cursed rascal?'
‘Someone! Someone!’ shouted the voice below.

Gay laughter filled the officer’s mess,
As Whisper, flustered, sought the voice unseen,
And cursed me for a damned blind witness,
`Twas a puzzle, the guilty mate agreed.

Old Whisper spoke not of the voice once more,
No rude demands for ‘Someone!’ crossed his lips.
The man, ashamed, would courtesy restore,
Thenceforth, a master did command that ship.



Location: Sea of Japan

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