The Sailor
An albatross goes flapping high—
He’s a shadow in the sky
Far away and far astern,
Following and following—
Like a song you used to sing,
But you can’t remember how
All the words went, nor the turn
Of the melody; and now
Only half a tune and rhyme
Circles in you head… and yet
It’s a thing you can’t forget,
Following you all the time.
An albatross is like a girl
You go picking up at night
In the street—or anywhere…
And she’ll let you muss her hair
Till you get it out of curl,
Then she’ll kiss you, more or less,
Even let you tear her dress.
But she’s always far away,
Far and almost out of sight…
Always like that slippery bird,
Like the song you used to sing
That you wish you never heard,
Following and following,
All astern of men and ships,
Following. And what I say
Tastes like bilge against my lips.
Boy, when a man dies, shipmates toss
His body to the albatross.