..The Poacher..
..First time on the water a score or more ago,
my first boss,
was at a loss
about how to pay , the bills he owe.

..The price sky high,
demand was there , ideas floated in the air,
"A spot I know,
big abb's they grow,"
"To your self you keep, I'll show you when we're there."

..Woke up to a coffee cup , six inches from my moe,

"Drink this quick ,
or butt I'll kick, hurry up ,we've got a long way to go."

..South we drove ,
my intrigue it grows,
was black as pitch before midnight.
Stopped by the water,
checked all was in order,
launched boat, speed away from inquiring light.

..East to the horizon, then turned to the south.
. Two hours go by,time did fly, turn west by south west.
. At light house flash,
will find the cache,
of big abalone laying at rest.

..Before the Boss dove off the deck,"Keep eye's trained and follow me near,"
"No lights at all,"
"No noises to call"
"At light house base,noise erase,house keeper may hear!"

..Points a grouped lot, of lighting's dot, a few miles away in the distance.
"Tail lights you see,
boat put to sea,
reef me in,
quick as Flynn, then speed home fast without my assistance!"

.. About this time , in my mind , things didn't seem quite right,
now up to my neck,
I'll run the deck,
smooth as silk ,and pray to be home before day light.

.. Torch strapped to head ,
downstairs he went,eerie glow in the water I see.
Bag after bag was floated ,
boat wasn't long to be loaded,
lifting my head, I sighted some red
reefed Boss on the deck heart pumping like heck,racing was I to stay free.

..Before the roar , the out boards made,
a siren sound and whooping noises I heard,
to the left had seen
bright lights on a lean,
small ship stuck fast,
short cut not passed , the unlucky captain had erred.

..Swell was smooth,
and hardly there,
tide was making no need to care.
Boss looked at the vessel
and where it be;

"A Navy boat, stuck on bombie,
give em an hour all will be well"

"Lets get these abb's home, so no-one can tell!"

..Headed due north,
dawn yet it not be,
to get off the water with no-one to see.
Boss then turned,
looked into the dark ,
hysterical laughter ,
what a lark.

..Two dive boats heading our way ,one over took and wanted to play.
.Fishtails he threw,
just saying, 'How do'
then , just powered, away.

.."Poaching ",Boss told ,"is what this be ,raiding Victoria's on shore seas,
size's half inch bigger , than in New South Wales!"
.On the way home,
the stories they flowed
and how much he'd make on the sales.

.. Grin on his dial,
overtaking his smile,
Boss man then said,

"A deck hand you'll make,
your services I'll take,
but......for Christ sake;

"Bloody great lookout , you turned out to be,"

"You missed two other boats, and an Australian Navy ship of the sea!"

*
Bombie.....Bombora- submerged reef
Naval vessel"Woolongong",while 'practicing',
negotiating the narrow gap between land
and Gabo Isl. VIC.......re floated with
negligible damage on the same tide.
Charges laid...Boss was correct on all counts!

Learn more about this author, pa cockle.
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