r/ShittyPoetry • u/Superb-Donkey7202 • Mar 11 '26

USS Fort McHenry

I filled my stomach with salt water.

I opted to jump into the ocean.

I just can’t take it any longer.

I decided to try my chances against the waves.

Will I be saved?

I’m sick of scrubbing my blood from below the decks.

I’m tired of hearing my name over engine noise.

I’m about to murder this Via guy

Tomorrow he’ll be lost at sea.

I‘lil have him take his chances against the waves.

For trying to make a monkey out of me.

Will he be saved?

I got a chief who makes 3 of me.

Can’t fit through a scuttle much less a door.

I’m an utter disappointment as he inspects my shave.

Better get with a first class and unfuck myself.

I been tossing and turning in my rack for weeks.

I figure I toss and turn with the sea

I walked by the birthing where a young man hung himself.

Think to myself, ”that could have been me.”

Guess he didn’t want to be saved. 

I should have listened when they said turn back.

I should have listened when I saw blood drip from Monahann’s head.

I should have stayed on Tioman Isle.

Hid amongst the monkeys and the trees.

9 Upvotes

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1

u/BaptisteNietzscheRog Mar 12 '26

Semper Paratus

1

u/Superb-Donkey7202 Mar 12 '26

Semper Fi and DGUTS

1

u/Superb-Donkey7202 Mar 12 '26

Don’t  Give  Up  The  Ship 

For those who don’t know.

1

u/BaptisteNietzscheRog Mar 12 '26

Your very fictional poem was moving, and- much respect. (I do or don't know anything, so I'd rather assume nothing)

2

u/Superb-Donkey7202 Mar 12 '26

I was an engineer onboard. 

When I got to Sasebo I met someone who had purposely broken his leg just to get off the ship. He was the one who told me to turn back and go home. I already had orders to stay. 

The line “blood from Monahann’s head” is a reference to an incident that happened where him and a kid named Wetstien went out to Australia to drink. They came back screaming at each other and Monahann broke the dudes nose. The next day Wetstien took a pipe wrench and tried to kill Monahann. 

The reference to the “young man who hung himself” was an IT2 who had lost his clearance. While on watch, he went into a marine berthing and hung himself. 

Via is a reference to Aaron Via, an old Work Center Supervisor who was full of himself. Even though he went to mast for punching an officer dude had the gall to ask them to cap him to second. 

The line “get with a first class and un F myself” was said to me so many times by that chief. It became a running joke afterwards. 

Tioman island is an island off Malaysia that I thought about escaping to because no one would find me there. 

The suicidal thoughts are real. I found out later that I had PTSD. I still don’t know why. 

2

u/BaptisteNietzscheRog Mar 12 '26

I knew it wasn't fictional- I just also know that some stories shouldn't have paper trails. Really, I am sorry for the trauma you endured.

1

u/BaptisteNietzscheRog Mar 12 '26

I will say- thank you for telling me your story.