Johnny B Hill

by Pat Darnell

Best Sailor E’er to Be

Johnny B Hill his self
‘best sailor on the sea
Johnny B Hill could sail your skiff
Backwards does he;
... that is ‘in reverse’
' best sailor ever-will-be

Allus' first 'round the course
... without paddle on turns
Rapturous His skills:
inverted as a straddle a'sterns
with strong hand on the keel

Johnny B Hill never had need
... no sirr’ee, not at all.
No clever intervention,
... P’shaw ...
Just wind, sail and a little bit a sea ..
... Come ‘e About! He’d shout ...
With no moment of detention ...
... nor stall

Oh, did I mention ...
He would back that skiff
Right alongside your pier
‘Tween vessels so stiff
‘en with them yardarms all queer

He's a spraying surf so pretty
As rooster tails go ...
Bow-sprits in a half-hitch kitty
Right on your bull nose.

'Dems my final words and I'll be stickin' to 'em.
(Pat Darnell 2010.March)