A LITTLE SHELLING TRIP

We went on a shelling trip to the South China Sea,
Along was my wife, Taina, four divers and me.
The islands were primitive, like times of early man,
For two and a half months we lived off the sea and land.

Once there I bought an old boat never realizing that day,
The time would come to take it home the other way.
We can't worry about that now, we're having too much fun,
By the time we finish this trip, the boat probably won't run.

We began island hopping having no food supply in stock,
Whenever we felt like it, we looked for a place to dock.
If not, we simply dropped anchor, and slept there for the night.
Awoke early the next morning, before the first rays of light.

The fish were so abundant, we couldn't give them all away,
So we started drying them to save for a rainy day.
We ate fresh calamari and lobster, living like royalty,
Never giving a second thought about our other reality.

The trip was all I imagined and so much more,
The diving, fishing and shelling were never a chore.
It felt like a punch in the stomach, when it was time to leave,
But the real challenge lay ahead, something I must achieve.

A seven hundred kilometer journey across open sea,
I never dreamt when we started, the captain would be me.
I knew that I could do it, but my wife thought I was nuts,
It doesn't require a genius, just having a little guts.

So what if we have no lights, half a map, and a toy compass,
At least we know our destination, not like Christopher Columbus.
I figured it would take seven days, just one day at a time,
By using a little common sense, everything would be fine.

Taina said it was too dangerous, many storms that time of year,
If we take it easy, there really is nothing to fear.
She insisted we find a captain, in case the boat broke down,
We put the word out, a week later, still no one came around.
Now she demanded at least a mechanic came along,
He enjoyed a paid vacation, nothing ever went wrong.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, one day I ran aground!
It was early morning, we heard an awful sound.
The glare off the water was really pretty bad,
We couldn't' see below the surface, two feet was all we had.
We quickly jumped overboard, pushed her back several feet,
Jumped back in, started up, and headed for the deep.

On the seventh and final day, the ocean was like glass,
We barely made a ripple even though we were going fast.
I estimated three hundred liters we used two ninety-eight,
That's pretty remarkable considering how I calculate.

After being home for a few days, it really sunk in for me,
Many things can go wrong in nature, especially on the sea.
I never claimed to be a mariner, I know it wasn't smart,
But you only go around once in life, live it from the heart!

ENGE

Like a caged animal on hard ground,
He performed on this circle-in-the-round.
Tossed roses fell on stage
Like peanuts in a monkey's cage.

True to a circle with no beginning, no end,
He searched the audience in hopes to find a friend,
Who might understand as he kept turning round?
As an actor might feel being laughed at as a clown.

He wants to face them all at once,
So they can see his eyes,
To know what's in his heart,
When he says, "there's no good-byes".

Now he performs in venues that he feels,
Will encompass his ideals.
Who is this man, who do you think?
My very good friend, Englebert Humperdinck