Flying Dutchman

Old lady with a barrow; life near ending
Standing by the harbour wall; warm wishes sending
children on the cold sea swell -
not fishers of men -
gone to chase away the last herring:
come empty home again.

So come all you lovers of the good life
on your supermarket run -
Set a sail of your own devising
and be there when the Dutchman comes.
Wee girl in a straw hat: from far east warring
Sad cargo of an old ship young bodies whoring
Slow ocean hobo - ports closed to her crew
No hope of immigration - keep passing through.
So come all you lovers of the good life
your children playing in the sun -
set a sympathetic flag a-flying
and be there when the Dutchman comes.

Death grinning like a scarecrow - Flying Dutchman
Seagull pilots flown from nowhere - try and touch one
as she sails in on the full tide
and the harbour-master yells
All hands vanished with the captain -
no one left, the tale to tell.

So come all you lovers of the good life
Look around you, can you see?
Staring ghostly in the mirror -
it's the Dutchman you will be
..floating slowly out to sea
in a misty misery.