Lifeboat the Days of Despair
Part 6
The Doctor relented, "We have come to the end
Of a most dire and precarious trip.
We started as strangers, but I consider you friends."
And from his water... gave all a last sip.
The passengers were five but two of them died
As they drifted on a merciless sea.
But the Captain seemed fine and continued to thrive
While the passengers now numbered three.
The Lawyer who died was a Man of some fame,
And the sharks were in for a snack.
But there was no one to blame... to his dishonor and shame
The sharks rudely threw the Man back.
The Olympian died next as she perished from thirst
And her last words made for a labored refrain.
"I am slightly embarrassed at not being first,
And being second was not how I trained."
The Dancer thought a prayer should be found
And spoken spiritually on behalf of the dead.
But the Atheist objected on constitutional grounds
So no homage or reverence was read.
The Atheist exclaimed, "You can evoke the Lord's name,
To what end I haven't a clue.
It is a far better state to come to grips with your fate
And in the end, hold the appropriate view."
The Captain was busy with his thumb to the wind
And said, "We shall head east for the rest of the day."
But to anyone... who bothered to look at the sun,
They were heading west causing further delay.
"Three degrees to port," He ordered the crew
To give the impression of some semblance of thought.
But the Captain was lost and had little to do,
So his efforts were most likely for naught.
When eagerly questioned on their current direction,
The Captain replied, "Please stay seated and still.
I don't have the time... to make clear my mind,
You must trust in my knowledge and skill."
The crew shook their heads as they wallowed in dread
Knowing the Captain was out of his league.
And with their circumstances grim, a 'Jonah' like him,
Was the last man they were likely to need.
To belay their depression, he tried to give the impression
Of a fine gentleman with a storied career.
But the crew was not fooled as he started to drool
And said the last thing they wanted to hear.
"I freely admit to an extreme lack of wits
And hold no opinions thought prudent or wise.
But its often been said... I am soft in the head
And I'm well aware of what that implies."
"So the wind and the waves will determine our fate
And from this we will quickly contrive.
Whether the Gods of the sea will let the rest of us be
And allow a rescue to save all our lives."
But this curious refrain to free them from doubt
Was abandoned when they were startled to learn.
With the weather much hotter, he had used the last of the water
To moisten his tropical fern.
*Next: The Atheist's Dream
*For those interested. I will be posting my cartoon 'Bob's your Uncle' on my homepage. A new one will appear every second day or so.
Copyright © David Mchattie | Year Posted 2020
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