I Have A Kelp Tattoo

"Gray Is My Favorite Color"

SEA-DOGGEREL II

Here's an old poem of mine from the early-90's, from graduate school days. I happened upon this ditty the other day and I still like it, so I'm sharing. Can you figure out how I was feeling about that dissertation, can you? I hope you like it.

SEA-DOGGEREL II

I load the cargo in the vessel

But there's a hole in the hold.

A shanghaied stevedore

With a sheepskin pedigree

Caught walking the plank

Towards a higher degree:

I load the cargo in the vessel

But there's a hole in the hold.

Hear the tenor in the vehicle:

Out of time--out of tune--

A Bluebeard raising Cain

Between the moon and a harpoon.

There's a ruse to refusal

And a goad to bestow;

I load the cargo in the vessel

But there's a hole in the hold.

Do you get the sinking feeling

That waiting won't control?

You load the cargo in the vessel

But there's a hole in the hold.

Why won't words

Why won't words

Why won't words

Do as they are told?

--Matt Duckworth

P.S. Sometimes, I can hear Elvis Costello singing these lyrics.