‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the boat,
The lockers were stuffed, it’s a wonder she’d float.
The stockings were hung at the base of the mast.
A tiny tree nearby, it’s lights flashing fast.
Mur in his tee shirt and me in my slinky,
Had just cuddled in for some hanky-panky,
When out on the deck there arose such a clatter,
We sprang from our bunk to see what’s the matter.
We threw open the hatches and grabbed up some clothes,
Some glasses, some shoes and onto the deck we rose.
A little old man so drunk and so slow,
We knew in a moment that it must be Old Joe.
His dinghy was leaking and covered in sand,
A beer was peaking from out of his hand.
“Howdy neigbour” he said ” My name is Joe”
“It’s cold tonight and the winds gonna blow”.
Invited aboard, he climbed pretty quick
Up the ladder, over the rail and spilt beer not a lick.
He was jolly old man with wrinkles galore,
“I’m anchored nearby, closer to shore”
“Christmas lights I saw and thought I’d visit”
Christmas is coming tonight I think – is it?”
Some turkey, a sandwich, a coffee so hot,
A bit of rum, a touch, just a tot?
We listened to stories, tales of before.
His wife had died in the winter ’94.
Alone he had cruised all up and around
The coast of America ’till his boat she broke down.
Now anchored here for the rest of his time,
He misses his wife, the cruising, sunshine.
The dawn is peeking from over the sea,
Happy Christmas, Joe, from Murray and me.
And look, Santa came by and left these here,
A tee shirt, a book , some soap, even beer!
A tear in his eye, old Joe has departed,
His outboard running like somebody farted.
“Merry Christmas to all” he called o’er the noise.
“Merry Christmas to all of the girls and the boys!”
We sure hope that you enjoy my little poem. We sit here in Lake Worth waiting for a window and hope to cross to the Bahamas soon. Before Christmas maybe. If not, we will spend the day with friends anchored nearby and phone home to talk to family. Enjoy your holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Hugs, Murray & Heather