Stow Slaw

Captain Crumb
After sailing for days
Found on board
A stowaway
A bad omen
For such a trip
Caused a stir
On the clipper ship
Young ragamuffin
Tall & lean
Neither boy nor man
Somewheres in between
The crew gathered
There on the deck
Some said let's
String him up
Off the mast
By the neck
Peg Leg Pete
Spoke of the Pirate Code
Respectful of
The Days of Old
So the boy
Had Pete to thank
Or else he would have
Walked the plank
You'll have to clean
to earn your keep
& learn the ways
Of the waters deep
If you obey
And follow the law
Each day you'll earn
A bowl of Stow Slaw
Tasted like seaweed
Greasy & green
Slimy and gross
Like mushy beans
Then the kid
Grew stronger & stronger
Learned to swim longer & longer
Learned the laws
Learned to fish
And turned the slaw
into a delicious dish
When it was served
They all shared stories
Sunken ships
Plundered glories
Treasure chests
Full of gold
Epic battles
Brave and bold
Severe storms from hell
Waves seven stories tall
Shielding your ears from
The sirens call
Whistling while you work
Will bring the wind
Killing an albatross
Will bring the end
Compasses spinning
Lost at sea
Sailors starving
Dying of scurvy
What by far
Seemed the worst
Was to be surrounded by water
But dying of thirst
Each & every meal
He learned their ways
Sun went up & down
Lost track of days
They would see
a shore
and shout
Land Ho!
And a foraging thru the forests
They would go
Sometimes they'd trade
Sometimes they'd steal
Most of the time
They'd make a deal
Silk and silver
For food & drink
And with jugs of rum
Into a stupor
They'd sink
Docked out in the lagoon
With a string of shells
He did festoon
Learned to throw
Dead on harpoon
Earned himself a name
But not too soon
Now he’s known
As Abalone
Because of his
Demeanor
Stoic & Stony
The crew took him in
Made him a man
Swam like a dolphin
Began to understand
He obeyed
Followed the law
He earned himself
another bowl
Of Stow Slaw
He heard the whales
And their low moan
Knew the sea
Had become his home
Waves rocked him
To sleep at night
Stars were clear
Shined so bright
Figured out how
To navigate
By celestial sight
Could always find the way
In the darkest of night
When the storms slammed
The boards would
Creak & crack
You'd think that God himself
Was on the attack
Roar of the ocean
Lighting and Thunder
On the brink of disaster
Ship going asunder
Abalone would fight
Hoist up the sails
Keep fighting the wind
And the deafening wails
When the ship capsized
Then uprighted itself
Few of the crew remained
Including himself
Captain Crumb
Was washed away
Without a trace
And Abalone
The stow away
He took his place
The sun bleached his hair
And leathered his face
He was solid and strong
He got up there in years
They kept moving along
Without any fears
They sailed without ceasing
They built up their fleet
They stole tons of gold
Pleased was Peg Leg Pete
With his parrot on his shoulder
And a patch on his eye
You could hear the bird
As the ship sailed by
If you obey
Follow the law
You'll earn yourself
A bowl of Stow Slaw