I detest You
I love you
Your pick
Far-famed to all
Light-colored or dark
Affluent or impoverished
Young or aged
No one breaks free
You vicious but just
You don’t compromise
When it is time
You appear like the sun
You rob on daylight
You leave contusion, ageless bruises
You Rob in the dark
I speak to you cruel but fair
Why didn’t you give me a chance
A chance to say good bye
You so cruel but fair
I dislike you
I love you
You may talk of submarines
And of other war machines
As you sip your beer and talk of yesteryear.
You may even look with awe
At the ships that roll and yaw,
And the carriers as steady as a rock.
And what’s prettier to see
Than a ‘can’ while out at sea
With her bow that’s dancing through the brine.
A destroyer, tough as nails
Boarding seas bury her rails
Staying vertical is truly an ordeal.
To the frigates plaudits go
They put on a graceful show
As they sleekly speed along at sea.
But there is a far-famed ship
And to her our caps we tip
To the Sweeper who was where we’re heading now.
See their sweeps when they outreach
Clearing paths from deep to beach
For landing craft to bring the soldiers through.
Knowing mines unswept ahead,
Resolutely then they thread
And their sweep gear clears a channel for the fleet.
So we give them our salute
Every mine-sweeping galoot.
And raise a toast to them when they’re ashore.
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