The Day I Refused Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

The day I refused

I was joining an old ship like old ships they have been
around the oceans a few times
and survived because they were built to ride the waves
They gave me a cabin smaller than a wardrobe
I had to go out into the hall to change clothes.
The bathroom had a shower that only gave salt water
I mean cold water from the sea
The captain tried to make me drunk
filling a glass with gin toping it with tonic as I have said before
I dislike gin.
The captain fell asleep I walked back on dry land
someone on the deck shouted coward!
Yes, they were right I hate living without dignity.