Introduction - 0 View from above upon arrival - 1 First Akbar door - 2 Gear - 3 Meeting the Division - 4 First Communion at Akbar - 5 Shepherd - 6 Lights out - 7 Vultures - 8 Get h’on Parade! - 9 Bandy - 10 Wakey–wakey! - 11 Smartening rig - 12 Economy Star - 13 Poetry Club - 14 The Writer - 15 The Skipper - 16 Boating - 17 Seamanship - 18 The Skipper's Kippers - 19 Moot Court - 20 Dirty Mary - 21 Cross–country - 22 Sailorboy - 23 Church Parade - 24 Fellini fragment on Jildy - 25 Deckscrap - 26 Cinderella Days - 27 Long Tom for 'Dead Men' - 28 Waiting for Podmore - 29 Akbar - 30 The Path - 31 First Akbar Door The tall ship’s mast stood solid as a rock Shrouded to concrete as preservative. A lifeboat swung on davits by a pool. A tiny merchantman lay moored in earth. Down by the playing–fields, boys chased a ball. Inside the mighty door a rating stood Marched in before us to an office door Bellowed “New Cock, Sir!” and stood aside. There stood a man in naval uniform Face fierce, beard blonde, eyes blue as ancient ice— Then the man smiled from his authority Made the boy feel more certain of his fate, Spoke to him kindly, made no cause for fear, Read him The Riot Act the gentle way Told him the first steps in a sailor’s life Then let him loose into the zoo of youth.

© Bill Meilen & Ravensong International 2007.