A Sailors Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray thee Lord my soul to keep.
Grant no other sailor take
My shoes and socks before I wake.
Lord guard me in my slumber,
And keep my hammock on its number.
May no clues nor lashing break
And let me down before I wake.
Keep me safely in the sight
And grant no fire drill tonight.
And in the morning let me wake,
Breathing scents of sirloin steaks.
God protect me in my dreams,
And make this better than it seems.
Grant the time may swiftly fly
When myself shall rest on high
In a snowy feather bed
Where I long to rest my head
Far away from all these scenes
And the smell of half-done beans.
Take me back into the land
Where they don't scrub down with sand
Where no demon Typhoon blows
Where women wash the clothes.
God thou knowest all my woes,
Feed me in my dying throes.
Take me back, I'll promise then
Never to leave home again.

--Four Years Later--

Our Father who art in Washington
Please dear Father let me stay
Do not drive me now away
Wipe away my scalding tears
and let me stay for Thirty Years
Please forgive me all my past
And things that happened at the mast
Do not my request refuse
and let me stay another cruise.

-Amen-

Author unknown:.