PORT
by Dolly Juhlin
The sad tale of a Coastie lifer......
When I was young and joined the Guard
I was known as quite the sport
I had more fun than you could guess
And had a gal in every port
They assigned me to a Coast Guard ship
A great huge floating fort
We traveled all around the world
I met girls in foreign ports
A shore side station appeared great duty
With a girlfriend who baked a great torte
Before I knew what happened to me
I had a wife back home in port
Domestic duties came naturally
Me being a fatherly sort
I didn't want to sail again
While my kids were living in port
Money never seemed to stretch too far
With dependants to support
Sea duty paid a little more
But my family was lonely in port
The Coast Guard sent me here and there
I had many stories to report
But back at home I was missed so much
By loved ones waiting in port
The years went by and I found myself
With bills of child support
The marriage crashed, the kids are gone
My Ex is hounding me from port
I put in my time and retired quite proud
But my money's tied up in court
I'll spend the years that I've got left
Searching for a safer homeport
-10/4/97 -