Best Cruisers Poems
The mighty 3rd to the north did steam,
Chasing a ghost not to be seen
Guard the landing your task assigned,
Quiet the day is to be benign
At dawn the Imperial fleet does appear,
Surprise complete, ranging fire splashes near
Outnumbered and out gunned, duty is clear,
Close the range you must in spite of your fear
Laying smoke, a jagged course you take,
An account of yourselves you will make
Steel your heart and make sure your eye,
For each salvo keeps you alive
Toe-to-toe the battle, you exchange mighty blows,
Triumph impossible, yet into the fray you all go
In perfect rhythm, the mad dance goes on,
As smoke filled gunhouse loads powder and shot
Decks strewn with the dead and dying,
Teams repair to keep the ensign flying
Struck and struck again, yet to point blank you steam,
Hard to port, you cross the “T”
“All guns to fire at the turn, torpedoes away!”
The enemy scatters in disarray
Too late, mortal blows you take
To the deep, no more your enemy to rake
One final salute their captain does render,
For you fought to the death and did not surrender
On this all men do still agree,
These were the finest two hours of Taffy 3
*****************************************
On October 25th, 1944, 3 destroyers and 4 destroyer escorts of Task Force
Taffy 3 engaged a combined force of Imperial Japanese Navy battleships and
cruisers in a 2 hour running gun battle to protect the escort carriers and troop
transports taking part in the Leyte Gulf landings in the Philippines. Two of the
three destroyers and one of the escorts were sunk while sinking three
Japanese heavy cruisers and damaged three more. Due to the fierceness of
the attack, the Japanese fleet retired from the area thinking they had been
attacked by a much larger force. At the outset of the battle, the commanding
officers of these 7 ships, without orders, individually decided to attack and
headed at flank speed to the fight all knowing they would most likely not
survive the day. Almost 1600 did not. In a final act of respect, the commander
of one Japanese cruiser saluted the crew of an American ship that had just
sunk as his ship passed them floating in the water.
There was an elusive little guy often espied during World War Two,
And who he was and whence he came no one ever really knew!
He was a bald headed little feller with a very prominent nose,
And he always left the message "Kilroy Was Here" in very stilted prose!
You seldom saw his eyes and his hands were clinging to a wall.
Many G.I.s saw him in latrine stalls and in their greasy dining hall!
His origin and parting message are debated to this very day,
And no one has ever nabbed the graffiti artists who always slunk away!
He was portrayed in cruisers, battleships and even on submarines!
Kilroy's portrait was tattooed on the chests of a few diehard Marines!
'Tis said Hitler saw "Kilroy Was Here" and wondered what it meant,
Thinking it a secret code when found on American accouterment!
Kilroy became as famous as the mysterious smile on the Mona Lisa.
(I even saw his mug when I climbed to the top of the Tower of Pisa!)
Rosie the Riveter may have been guilty, if the truth were told,
Of tracing Kilroy's image on bombers, including the bomb bay hold!
Well, 'tis for sure we couldn't have won the war without the little guy!
Kilroy's antics lifted morale at home and overseas, that you can't deny!
But you haven't seen the last of him, for he is forever etched in history,
On the World War Two Monument in DC - how he got there is a mystery!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
For those a tad younger who may have never heard of Kilroy, go to your search
and type in "Kilroy Was Here" and click the Wikipedia notation and you will learn
more than you ever wanted to know about him!
Public Speaking
Public speaking made me nervous when I was in school
Getting up in front of class, I always lost my cool
I memorized my speeches and really knew them well
But between my brain and lips, things just didn’t jell
Here are a few examples with embarrassing details
“Saving whales,” I meant to say instead of “waving sails”
And when one wants to talk about “battle ships and cruisers”
His audience will likely laugh at “cattle ships and bruisers”
It shouldn’t be as hard as jumping a high hurdle
To say “hypodermic needle” not “hypodemic nurdle”
And certainly one understands that a “well-oiled bicycle”
Will last a whole lot longer than a “well-boiled icicle”
During school it seemed likely I’d been “wasting two terms”
Still, a whole lot better that “tasting two worms”
So compared to public speaking, writing is the “fun part”
More dignified that expounding on the latest “pun fart”
WAR
Senseless killings
Barbaric and animalistic desires
Necrophilia and sadomasochism
Blinded by nationalistic pride
All out war
So babies have no where to hide
Drone attacks on hospitals and nurseries
They bury their corpses
In cheap boxes
Bombs and guided missiles
Strike targets from the sky
The innocent are murdered
So I ask why
Technology is pushed to its very limit
Seals fire shots with laser that beam it
With accuracy and precision
But what is yardstick to politicians’ decision?
Resources are channel to produce victory
The masses are slaughtered
So again we repeat history
Both sides of the wall commit atrocities
The resurrection of man’s innate beastiality
Collateral damage caused in every surgical strike
And then we face reprisal
Explosives on trucks and even on a bike
IEDs!
So watch where you are stepping
Women are foes too
So be careful with who you re helping
Suicide bombers looking for soft hits
Same was the 1960s and the 21st century is a repeat
Nukes and ICBMs
Delivery is eminent
Annihilation of the subhuman race
And to put our names in history’s place
Dooms day arrives
See the markings of World War III
Orbital bombardment from attack satellites
But all you see is
Red light
Blue light
Then we are consumed by fire
I shall live beyond this day
So the devil is a liar
A million boots put in harms way
And with their blood they shall pay
Love ones wish they could stay
And pray not for that day
Torpedoes launched from submarines
Tomahawks fired from cruisers
The battle for oil and land
But we are all losers
War!
I am outside the circle of sex. Just as well. Population control,
the biome's survival instinct. Or I'm old. Look
in mirror, skin over bones. Young girls
on bicycles, running, have that granddaughterly smile for me,
all is safe, well. Much is well.
The neighborhood safe,
the nation a non-violent helpmate among nations. Until
food shortages, weather crises, nuclear mischief apply.
Police patrols. I was proud of Massachusetts
voting to decriminalize reefer. Let's go all the way:
free all non-violent offenders from their cells! Force police
out of cruisers to walk the streets and say hello.
What else can we try:
Open the border with Mexico. Let labor
flow like capital.
What has this to do with the self,
the temperamental, fragile self. The one that leaves no footprint
in eternity. No smell.
The Obstinate Lighthouse
It was off the coast of Newfoundland in the year of nineteen ninety six
A humble little lighthouse, against a fleet of mighty ships
Lights flickering in the night time and the Americans did say
Beholder of the light ahead, you are in our way
We are the USS Abraham Lincoln, an Aircraft Carrier, of Might
I demand you change your course to North, unless you want a fight
We are the USS Abraham Lincoln, the second largest ship
I have you on our radar screen, you are but a little blip
Cruisers and Destroyer’s, they steam along with me
A mighty fleet of war machines, do not mess with thee
Change your course immediate, move out of our way
Your obstinance annoys us, what do you have to say
The Canadian voice responded, you do not frighten me
I am solid and stand firm, like the mighty great oak tree
Saving souls is my work, here I stand like a rock
So open up your big fat mouth and insert in it, a sock
I am but a little lighthouse, I have no power to prove
USS Abraham Lincoln and the fleet with which you cruise
I am staying put, my friend, it is you that has to move.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-obstinate-lighthouse/
18/12/2018
I Drove my Bugatti,
to my Buddy's "G's party.
I didn't know many there,
at my Buddy "G's party.
Poet's day Trader's,
The Movers and Shakers.
Some Star Movie Makers,
The Cruisers and fakers,
Dancer's and Sailor's.
Rock Music Player's,
With "G's" Party favors.
Classic Hip and Arty
One Crazy Party.
I dozed off in My Bugatti.
I drove My Roll's Canardly,
To "Ole" Fuzy's party,
I knew everybody,
at "Ole Fuzy's" party.
Boones Farm in glass,
And some smoking Grass.
Foaming Miller's Frothy.
With Pocket Rocket Poly.
Led Zeppelin to Hollie's,
A classic Hippy Party.
So, Party Hardy.
And follow Your Dreams
to Your New Bugatti.
Yeah.
A Rolls Canardly.
is a Vehicle that Rolls Down
One Hill, and Can Hardly
Roll up the Next.
Pug noses in designer hoodies
Wicker baskets on beach cruisers
Leather sofas doggy devoted
Grooming parlors and pet hotels
Best pooch in wedding tux
Nip and tuck, no more nuts
Hollywood glitz for puppy shitz
LA doggy style
Westside!
Last words...last rites...no more day...no more night
Sweet surrender...fever...fright
Taking that south bound subway ride
Eternal exit...entrance in
Running and never replinished...darkness diminished
IT IS FINISHED
Anger...hatred...all on fire
Chariots they crash...wreck the weak
Marching madmen...barking beasts
Rising...falling...waking sleep
Creeping...crawling...cold as ice
Insanity and ignorace...darkness diminsihed
IT IS FINISHED
Deduction...drained...subtract...sustain
Dirty needles...wounded veins
Queens bring pleasure...kings bring pain
Tears of terror...trenches...treasure
Misery it has no measure
Diamonds...ditches...skidmarks...stitches...darkness diminished
IT IS FINISHED
Sinners...saints...winners...losers
Junkies...clowns...cadavers...cruisers
Carnivals for criminals...length of lies...subliminal
Pennies...nickles...dimes...quarters
Execution...follow orders
Nails in crosses...flesh...blood...bones
Knocking loud but nobody's home
Rise to Heaven...Fall to Hell
Tell the truth and time will tell
Marked for madness...final feast...darkness diminished
IT IS FINISHED
Happiness
By Franklin Price
4/7/2015
inspired by June Baker
Happiness how to define
Is your happiness the same as mine
Having things for which hell bent
Or is it just to be content
Keeping up with Alias Jones
Expensive cars and camera phones
Yachts and mansions first class cruisers
If you don't have them are you losers
Do you eat and have your fill
Not be in doubt of your next meal
When it rains be dry inside
Make enough to stem the tide
Wealth is not about the cash
To have it all a frantic dash
To strive for things that mean so little
Above contentment all's a piddle
What does it take to be content
Find happiness at least a glint
Dwell on the basics and you will find
Happiness and peace of mind
Self is first of all the most
To love yourself but not to boast
Then treat all others as if were you
Contentment comes as if on cue
YARRA was an old Sloop
Yarra was an old ship in 1941...........about a 10 year old Sloop
She was a small Destroyer with three 4 inch guns...
So she sunk the Babr in an attack in old Iran......it had 4inch guns the Babr....
And she dodged the Stukas at Tobruk, this small tin can....
Leading Seaman R Taylor was on the no2 gun...
He was a good shot, when driving off the Hun...
The Captain called the Black Prince, was Harrington, a good one...
Yarra drove the Stukas off, downed 4 planes in 41...
She escorted supplies to Tobruk, to feed the Aussie boys ...
Tobruk would frustrate Rommell, Aussies destroyed his tanks like toys....
42 brought the Japanese war, much closer to their own ....
So Yarra went to Singapore, on escort duty home ....
4th march in 42, Yarra was heading south again....
With a small convoy, met warships from Japan....
3 cruisers with big 8 inch guns, Yarra had no chance, for sure...
Yarra turned and went for them, outgunned 10 times and more...
Yarra soon was a burning blazing wreck, abandon ship was called....
One lone gun was shooting at the Jap, Pommy prisoners recalled?....
From the Japanese Cruiser Maya, they saw a sloop defy....
No 2 gun still shooting, Taylor and Yarra die...
Don Johnson 7-Aug-09
Yarra fought the lethal Stuka 87 German dive bombers , and Italian bombers on the Tobruk
run...
She dodged bombs , after they were dropped and dodged torpedoes from them too....
Yarra on her final day with her three 4 inch guns came up against 3 Japanese Cruisers with
several 8 inch guns each, plus 2 Japanese Destroyers who also outgunned her.... Later
in 1944 US Submarines Darter and Dace sank 2 of those cruisers Atago and Maya.
Yarra fought the 3 Japanese cruisers and died fighting
One gun kept shooting thought the ship was afire and sinking.........Seaman R Taylor the
brave!
http://www.scullywag.com/kokoda1942stoush/
Captain Waller & Perth
The Japanese navy they came south,
Invaded Indonesia, in 1942
Cruiser Perth of 6 inch guns,
Captain Hector Waller was to choose her,
De Ruyter, Java , Perth and the 8 inch guns of USS. Houston,
They fought battles against overwhelming odds,
Dodged 5 torpedo attacks till sunk were the 2 Dutch cruisers,
Waller took Houston with him, back to Indonesia,
Reload refuel to fight again, fought to the death, not losers,
These 2 game ships attacked the invasion fleet,
With guns a bloody blazing, fired torpedoes and sunk,
Some Transports , damaged Cruisers , quite amazing,
point blank at Destroyers chasing,
till one of a hundred torpedoes hit,
And Perth went down still racing,
Houston she sank about 20 minutes later,
Japanese thought they fought a Battleship,
So much damage it was crazy.
Don Johnson
http://www.gunplot.net/perthww2/Perth.htm
Captain Waller continued on at half speed in an effort to stop the ship taking more men with her when she finally went. Then her bows dipped gently down, her stern raised out of the water, only one of her four screws still turning. It was said she did not sink but 'steamed out'. Her much loved Captain last seen in the glare of the flames, on the bridge, giving orders.
Houston, after a similarly heroic performance also went down. Perth's total complement was 681. Of these 353 were lost in action, 4 died ashore and 324 were captured, of these 106 died whilst prisoners of war 53 of them on the infamous Burma-Siam railway.
In all the Japanese had lost fifteen ships and could not believe that a Battleship was not present. A report in the Syonan Times in Japan in 1942 read - In the terrific battle in Sunda Strait many ships on both sides were sunk. It must be remembered, however, that the lighter Nipponese ships were fighting a superior force which included a battleship".The Japan Times made a similar admission.
Commemoration $5 coin minted by the Australian mint to mark the 60th. Anniversary of the Battle of Sunda Strait.
In 2002, the Royal Australian Mint produced a special $5 coin depicting both Perth and Houston, designed to remember the 60th. Anniversary of their sacrifice, and sinking, at the Battle of Sunda Strait in 1942.
please lemme know and honestly profess
if profusion of words create a lingual Loch Ness
(when hens canst come home to roost
especially, encountering
the following conglomeration
in matthew scott harris patois).
He readily admits writing inventive
attempts usually ten tubby a literary mess,
thus finding innocent cyber cruisers
Angle fishing for Saxony fundamental fluidity
courtesy of Freudian stream of consciousness,
gabbling gibberish, muck not done on purpose
and certainly less
to impress.
Gnome hatter intent toward
cogency, fancy ingenuity,
levity, the inevitable
resultant wrought gobbledygook
fascination for Lingua Franca
feeble endeavor splutters, splinters,
and splatters Asia Yukon guess.
Paramour status analogous with twenty six letters,
sans En gull Lush Mother tongue confluence
finds me submerged (as an Arctic Monkey)
swimmingly enervated
via erotic laced sentiments
perhaps finds bravely daring soul madly
hollering, gesticulating floundering,
(in close proximity to Davey Jones's locker)
to avoid drowning at sea
perchance comprehending passionate influence.
Upon espying a signature poem of mine
forces one pre ponder ring lurking predilection
tib hush anonymous re:
dears (dares) adventuresome mettle
taking him/her to the brainy
(briny) deep brink
Icon fess
this (NON FAKE) pretense, why
aye metaphorically express
(via medium of ordinary Anglophile
alphabetic wanton soup,
or figurative egg drop bub
bling broth (el) doth brew)
pronouns Sibyl affectation
affliction sans plethora,
where each ladle full adrip with
richly flavor Verdana Font lee
and sincerely textured vocabulary.
Pluperfect mortals beings undoubtedly feel
(blindsided, how this hunger stricken author
suffers said sesquipedalian syndrome
particularly expectorating flashy
hoping tum bark on successful literary quest)
hyper aware aspiring paperback writers wannabe
might stoop to conquer, cheat, cadge
vis a vis plagiarize plethora
amidst storied plentiful English droppings.
Rather than succumb pretense feigning paucity
temptation to bask exultantly,
professed glorious unrequited love
announcing required sworn vow,
(el lye ding) avowed consonant covenant.
OUR TIN POT NAVY so THEY SAID in 1914 Sydney in the first World War 1
In 1914 German cruisers were cut loose
and Emden she was one…………….…(fired 38lb shells)
the Indian ocean she did for hunting choose
and 9 ships were sunk by gun…….
Then she sailed and shelled Madras , I say
captured 10 more ships, when off Ceylon…
Penang harbour a night visit,… hey!
sank Frog and Ruski warships, and was gone ….(Emden was daring!)
November 8, morse code it said… strange ship a passing there,
out near Cocos island, the German raider caused a stir
Cruiser Sydney she raced west at 25 knots or more
And sighted wily Emden who opened fire for sure
Sydney took 15 hits before, she then hit back …..(with 100lb shells)
blew away her steering gear and knocked her funnels flat (Emden)
.. ………..demise………..
The Scrap Iron Flotilla they said in 1940
Light Cruiser Sydney in World War 2
Light Cruiser Sydney had some 6 inch guns
she met Italians in the med.
sank destroyer Espero not for fun
in nineteen forty, yes its said
17th july Sydney was on patrol, when,
she was called into a fight
2 Italian cruisers waited, then,
sprung some pommy destroyers in flight....(pommy English)
Yes Sydney came to even up
the poms out gunned for sure
when she arrived with blazing guns
the Italians run for shore
Bande Nere and Colleoni rushed a bit
made smoke to get away
Band Nere then she took a funnel hit
as Sydney passed her way
Collenoni then she wore the brunt
stopped dead by Sydney's shell
so Band Nere escaped the hunt
Sydney's out of ammo… well?.:)
But if you live by the sword you die by the sword
cunning German's had their day
Sydney met a ship with hidden guns aboard
Raider Kormoran made her play
Kormoran she hid behind a Dutch flag
and when Sydney came in range ………a sitting duck ... 1000 yards
she fired first, jerked down the rag……...old navy trick
two equals did exchange………………….similar guns…
Though mortally wounded Sydney, still,
had some guns to fire,
x turret still fired with a bitter will
burnt Kornoran …'the liar'…….Don Johnson
……….demise of both……….
No trace of the Sydney sailors ...Kormoran sailors made it to the barren west coast of
Australia
and were interned as P.O.Ws....Almost seems like Karma with payback by the German navy...
Someday Soon I Hope
Seems like so often I am in doubt
Where should story start and be about
After having been in a state of depression
I honestly want to hear your suggestion.
Should a trip to Guernsey to try to take
Where a Potato Peel Pie they often back
Have done it for everyone and society
And are known for all of their notoriety.
Permission to write this I now ask
So someday soon can complete the task
To Guernsey will go on a sailing ship
Arriving there requires a long trip.
From America is where we will first start
Later on Princess Lines from port will part
Every British Isle by us, we will visit
Guernsey's the one that is very exquisite.
On Cruise Critic many people we will contact
To draw from them their opinion and each fact
Where best places will be to take a tour
Being they're great cruisers and know for sure.
How happy my wife and me will be
As soon as we set sail out to sea
In each day a delight we are sure to find
And so look forward to all the peace of mind.
James Thomas Horn
Retired Veteran