Gybing Talk
by Duncan Dwelle, 1994
Twas thrilling and the halyard roves
did gybe and gimbal on the ways.
All flimsy were the border drogues
and the nun's gaff out sways.
Beware the staysail blocks, my son!
The sheets that bite, the snaps that catch.
Beware the pelican hook and shun
the dangerous after-hatch.
He took his kevlar cord in hand.
Long time the man's big toe he sought.
So rested he in the mainmast lee
and stood a while in thought.
And as in dampish drought he stood
the spinnaker, with clews the same,
came flying through the dodger hood
and tangled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
the reaching strut went rip-ker-rack!
He left it dead, and with its head
he went galumping back.
"And hast thou dowsed the spinnaker?
Come to my charms, my beamy toy!
O crabjuice day! Far out, fer sure!"
She chortled in her joy.
Twas thrilling and the halyard roves
did gybe and gimbal on the ways.
All flimsy were the border drogues
and the nun's gaff out sways.