Queen of the Seas

Queen of The Seas

It was with shudders she wallowed
In the trough of the waves,
For it was a bitter defeat she had swallowed.
A once proud queen was limping home
On a spinnaker, a spanker and a jury-rigged jib.

It was with screams she wracked
In the trough of the waves,
For it was with pain she tacked.
A once proud queen was limping home
On a spinnaker, a spanker and a jury-rigged jib.

Once it was with pride she had sailed
On the crest of the waves
For it was with insolence she had railed.
Now a once proud queen was limping home
On a spinnaker, a spanker and a jury-rigged jib.

Once it was with might she had flown
Over the best of the waves
For it was forty-two guns she had shown.
Now a once proud queen was limping home
On a spinnaker, a spanker and a jury-rigged jib.

Then this day, her match she met
On the crest of the waves,
Though chastened, she lives on yet,
And a once proud queen comes limping home
On a spinnaker, a spanker and a jury-rigged jib.

Her guns did roar, oh, they were loud,
Her sticks were high, they scratched the sky,
Her sails were white seeming a cloud.
But a once proud queen came limping home
On a spinnaker, a spanker and a jury-rigged jib.

The guns are silent, the sails are rags
Attached to stubs, the rest are splinters
The crew is weary, their spirit sags
Aboard a once proud queen while limping home
On a spinnaker, a spanker and a jury-rigged jib.

She’ll live on yet, she’ll make port, put the dock alongside,
To heal, provision and fit, to once more heel to the lee.
To once again sail out swiftly with a tide
As a courser, moving swiftly with full canvas set.
Again, a grand ship sailing once more, bold, proud and free.