The Open Boat

[Dave Homewood]

This was published in the Evening Post (Wellington), on the 18th of June 1940:

THE OPEN BOAT.

("Punch," Feb. 20, 1918.)

"When this here war is done," says Dan,
"and all the fightin's through
There's some'll pal with Fritz again
as they was used to-do;

But not me," says Dan the sailor-man,
"not me," says he; '
"Lord knows it's nippy in an open boat
on winter nights at sea."

"When the last battle's lost an' won
an' won or lost the game,
There's some'll think no 'arm to drink
with squareheads just the same

But not me," says Dan the sailor-man.
"an' if you ask me why —
Lord knows it's thirsty in an open boat
when the water-breaker's dry.

"When all the bloomin' mines is swep'
an' ships are sunk no more
There's some'll set them down to eat
with Germans as before;

But not me," says Dan the sailor-man,
"not me, for one —
Lord knows it's hungry in an open boat
when the last biscuit's done.

"When peace is signed and treaties made
an' trade begins again
There's some'll shake a German's 'and
an' never see the stain;

But not me," says Dan the sailor-man,
"not me, as God's on high —
Lord knows it's bitter in an open boat
to see your shipmates die."