Jan Oskar Hansen Poet Sonnet

Cleanliness and Whores

Cleanliness and Whores 

The ship was old once it had been a big ship now it was small
it had been overtaking by time, its shower system had sea water
which was nice enough to cool off when it was hot.
 After having a shower, you needed a bucket of fresh water to rinse 
the salt away if not you would scratch all night have irritated skin 
For month we did not have a proper wash when our ship docked in
Bremerhaven for repairs and we got fresh water found I had 
an extra pair of socks I didn’t know about 
it was wonderful having a hot shower I stayed under it til someone 
complained I was using all the warm water, even today the sense 
of cleanliness makes me shudder with delight.

Whatever I had done in my youth the night before it helped 
to have a shower and wash the sin away the smell of “life buoy.” 
the only soap we knew about, made the difference the whores
loved it they knew you were clean seamen

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