Adios Amigos

The decks are loaded,

and we're heading for the barn.

Then we hear that awful noise,

the frigging high water alarm.

We can't find the damn leak,

and are sinking fast

so we put out a Mayday,

hoping someone will save our ass.

We had been desperate to make a trip,

but our life raft was in for repair.

So we decided to go without it,

thinking that only the Coasties would care.

Suddenly we see a vessel coming at us

at a high rate of speed.

He obviously sees us,

so he's coming to do a good deed.

He's really hauling ass,

but goes right on by.

We scream at him on the VHF,

and here is his reply;

"I was scanning the radio,

and picked up your Mayday.

So I altered course,

and headed this way.

But we're hauling 500 kilos of coke

and have no time to play."

"You don't need to sweat it though,

because the Coast Guard is only 5 minutes behind,

and you can be sure that

they'll be coming right down this line."

"So while they're rescuing your sorry asses,

we'll make a clean getaway.

Adios amigos,

you have made our day."

This poem was awarded first prize in the on-site poetry contest

at the Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria OR, Feb 26-28, 2010.