IN NINETEEN SEVENTY THREE
JOHNNY, BO, AND ME
SAILED ACROSS THE SEA
HEADING FOR THE ZUIDERZEE
ON DOWN PAST GRAVESEND
OVER THE SHIVERING SANDS
PAST THE END OF THE THAMES
GOING TO THE NETHERLANDS

NEXT DAY ON THE HORIZON
BO SAW A PLUME OF SMOKE
WHILST JOHNNY GOT HIS BINS OUT
I TOOK ANOTHER TOKE
“THERE’S TWENTY FOOT FLAMES IN THE SKY”
SAID JOHNNY, CHANGING OUR WAY
WITH NO THOUGHT OF WHAT OR OF WHY
WE WERE GONNA BE HEROES THAT DAY

THE CREW ON THE DECK OF THAT SHIP
LAUGHED AS WE PULLED ALONG SIDE
THEY WERE BURNING OFF CHEMICAL SHIT
WE SAILED OFF NURSING OUR PRIDE
SAILING ACROSS THE SEA
HEADING FOR THE ZUIDERZEE
IN NINETEEN SEVENTY THREE
JOHNNY, BO, AND ME

Harry Rogers, in my old study, November 2009