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 The Skipper The Old Man always sloped along the Deck Saluting with an airy wave of hand Seeming to float relaxedly along His suit of naval doe immaculate Four rings of Captain golden on each sleeve His shoes of soft black gleaming leather kid. Yet when he sat behind Defaulter's desk upon Defaulters and Requests Parade He was The Dragon of the Admiralty Tartar dispensing justice in a cultured tone Wincing at the yells and stamps of Jildy Conferring with his Deputy alone Thrumming manicured fingers on bright oak.

© Bill Meilen & Ravensong International 2007.