THE LAY OF THE LAST SIGNALMAN
“ON A THICKLY WOODED SPONSON WHERE THE LAST PROJECTOR STANDS,
THE MUSEUM PAIR OF HAND-FLAGS, HANGING IDLY IN MY HANDS.
WITH MY JARGON HALF FORGOTTEN, OF MY STOCK-IN-TRADE BEREFT,
I WONDER WHATS AHEAD OF ME – THE ONLY BUNTING LEFT!
THE RELICS OF MY ANCIENT CRAFT, HAVE VANISHED ONE BY ONE,
THE CRUISER ARC, THE MORSE FLAG AND MANOEUVRING LIGHTS HAVE GONE.
AND I HEAR THEY’D BE USELESS IN THE FINAL GLOBAL WAR,
AS THE HELIO, THE FOGHORN AND MASTHEAD SEMAPHORE.
THE MAST IS SPROUTING GADGETS LIKE A NIGHTMARE XMAS TREE,
THERE ARE WHIPS, STUBS AND WAVEGUIDES WHERE MY HALYARDS USED TO BE,
AND I COULDN’T HOIST A TACKLINE THROUGH THAT LUNATIC ARRAY,
FOR AT EVERY HEIGHT AND ANGLE THERE’S A DIPOLE IN THE WAY.
THE ALERT AND HAWK-EYED SIGNALMAN, IS RENDERED OBSOLETE!
BY ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED OPTICS OF THE FLEET.
AND THE LEAPING BARRACUDA ON THE CHARGING SUBMARINE,
CAN BE SIGHTED AS A BLOB UPON A FLUORESCENT SCREEN.
TO DELETE THE HUMAN ERROR, TO ERASE A NOBLE BREED,
WE RELY UPON A RELAY, AND WE PIN OUR FAITH IN CREED.
WE PRESS A BUTTON, MAKE A SWITCH AND SPIN A LITTLE WHEEL,
IT’S CENT-PER-CENT EFFICIENT – WHEN WE’RE ON AN EVEN KEEL.
BUT AGAIN I MAY BE NEEDED, FOR THE TIME WILL SURELY COME,
WHEN WE HAVE TO TALK IN SILENCE AND THE MODERN STUFF IS DUMB,
WHEN THE SIGNAL LANTERN’S FLASHING OR THE FLAGS ARE FLYING FREE
IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR NELSON, AND IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME”
Thanks to Billy Bartlett for the article
Great poem – how true. Well done Billy
Great poem Billy – the last paragraph sums it up – well done.
I can remember all very clearly, Can they even read Morse, which is in your brain forever, and the semaphore position are the same. Does anyone do one-time pad or type x encoding anymore? A sad day that we have all been superseded
I once was a bunting tosser but our breed has gone forever unless we return to sail.
Ditto Ralph, and well done Bill.
Unfortunately people today are to interested iPads, social media etc and actual “ hands on trades” are being forgotten.
The wheel does turn slowly though!
👏brilliant
Thanks Bill. That was great. Skills learned, used and never forgotten now obsolete. Like driving a manual car and doubling the clutch!
Great Poem Billy.
With your permission I would love to print it, frame it and hang it up (with your name at the bottom of course). Any chance I can get your service number too?
“Be my guest” Rob. For your info – While serving at Navy Office many years ago
I salvaged this from an old ex RN Writer who was a general dogs body at Naval Staff. Can’t recall his name (long gone now) but I know he was Welsh. Taff ?? something.
BB
To all you V/S fullas out there, old & not so old – yes, like an elephant we never forget.,
BB