The Sinking Ship Poem by Mark Nichols

Up in the crow's nest Po spotted catastrophe
Far in the distance
No one believes him
They say little Po's seein' things
Just to get some attention

Now the balers are bailing
And singing this song
The string quartet plays and the music goes on
The panic is slapstick like some old cartoon
The waltzers are waltzing around the ballroom

As the ship goes down
Captain stands by his vessel so proud
He says, 'Women and children should go first! '
Too right!
Now we're strapped here and ready for worse
As the ship goes down

Up in the crow's nest Po smiles to himself, smugly
Leering in lofty position
No one believed him and now he's the first mate of rum
And derision

Now the furniture's sliding by
As if it's on wheels
The waiters spin, white dresses
Tripping high heels
The panic is slapstick like some old cartoon
And Po cackles orders
A grin like the moon

As the ship goes down
Po is merrily chiding the crowd
He says:
'Gather your valuables, string, ceiling wax
And set sail for the land of boo hoo! '

And the ship goes down