Mackeral Men
THE MACKEREL MEN
Mackerel time is here again
It makes me reach out for my pen
To blab the secrets – why and when
We revert to wily Mackerel Men.
We rise before the sun is up
To brew the tea – ( and drop a cup )
Then quietly as a little mouse
We stumble ‘round the darkened house.
No need to wake the wife, or snoring casual lover
We creep out to the car, ‘midst the plaintive calls of plover
And stealthy as a panther we back up to the boat
To crunch it with the tow-bar – ( hope it still will float ).
Then out the gate we sneak as the dawn dispels the dark
Past the neighbours’ dog – ( how that mutt can bark! )
We idle down the street to the engine’s throaty roar
(Don’t disturb the neighbours – it’s another Mackerel Law ! )
We head out through the Bar – giant fish to find
Alone, ( except for twenty boats, and a dozen more behind )
Then arrow to the “secret -spot” – we locate it right away
For every boat homes in on it – the flavour of the day.
So ‘round and ‘round in circles, and back and forth we go
Some with bait on top, and others down below
Tangling in propellers – causing heaps of sparks
Catching monstrous Mackerel, getting busted off by sharks.
But soon the sun is riding high and heating up the day
Boats are racing home again through blue Laguna Bay
To ride the waves across the Bar, looking smooth and grand
(And sometimes doing nose-dives, straight onto the sand).
Then Coastguard come and drag the hapless Boaties in –
(Some of us must lose, and some of us must win)
We always catch the biggest fish – We win the Rex Hunt Prize
For we’re the Wily Mackerel Men – would I tell you lies?
Phantom