The Land of Grimney - The Illustrated Adventures of Cora Pearl, aged 12

Two men-of-war were blasted
By cannon shot and chain.
Both lost their booms and their mizzens
As they fought on the Spanish Maine.
Sails and masts fell overboard
And dragged, held by rigging and sheet.
Headway was lost to the very great cost
That they lost all sight of the fleet.

Captain One turned his back to the bowsprit
Bemoaning his fate to the crew.
“I can’t bear to part with the mizzen
Though it’s dragging us down in the blue”.
Captain Two kept his eyes to the jack-staff,
Ordered axes to be brought from below.
“What’s behind is past and we need to move fast.
Cut loose lads! And onward we go”.

Captain One, he never made admiral,
His glance was ever behind.
And it’s really no farce that with eyes in your arse
To the future you’re virtually blind.
Captain Two paid dear for lost rigging;
He paid and got on with his sailing.
With eyes on the horizon it’s hardly surprising,
In Admiralty it’s his word prevailing.

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"Never look down on a man unless you're helping him up." Jessie Jackson

Many thanks Don1.

Sad thing is, in real life it would be the dozy captain in admiralty.

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"Never look down on a man unless you're helping him up." Jessie Jackson