Farewell and adieu to you noble hearties,-- <br />Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain, <br />For I've received orders for to sail for the <br />Deadman, <br />But hope with the grand fleet to see you <br />again. <br /> <br />I have hove my ship to, with main-top-sail <br />aback, boys; <br />I have hove my ship to, for the strike <br />soundings clear-- <br />The black scud a'flying; but, by God's blessing, <br />dam' me, <br />Right up the Channel for the Deadman I'll <br />steer. <br /> <br />I have worried through the waters that are <br />called the Doldrums, <br />And growled at Sargasso that clogs while ye <br />grope-- <br />Blast my eyes, but the light-ship is hid by the <br />mist, lads:-- <br />_Flying Dutchman_--odds bobbs--off the <br />Cape of Good Hope! <br /> <br />But what's this I feel that is fanning my cheek, <br />Matt? <br />The white goney's wing?--how she rolls!-- <br />'t is the Cape!-- <br />Give my kit to the mess, Jock, for kin none is <br />mine, none; <br />And tell _Holy Joe_ to avast with the crape. <br /> <br />Dead reckoning, says _Joe_, it won't do to go by; <br />But they doused all the glims, Matt, in sky <br />t' other night. <br />Dead reckoning is good for to sail for the <br />Deadman; <br />And Tom Deadlight he thinks it may reckon <br />near right. <br /> <br />The signal!--it streams for the grand fleet to <br />anchor. <br />The captains--the trumpets--the hullabaloo! <br />Stand by for blue-blazes, and mind your <br />shank-painters, <br />For the Lord High Admiral, he's squinting <br />at you! <br /> <br />But give me my _tot_, Matt, before I roll over; <br />Jock, let's have your flipper, it's good for to <br />feel; <br />And don't sew me up without _baccy_ in mouth, <br />boys, <br />And don't blubber like lubbers when I turn <br />up my keel.<br /><br />Herman Melville<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/tom-deadlight/
