Twas the night before...

GoldenRivet · 12-21-08, 10:00 PM

'Twas the night before Christmas, aboard our U-boat

Not a single ship spotted, in Churchill’s big moat;

The torpedoes were loaded in each tube with care,

In hopes that some merchants soon would be there;

The crewmen were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of French girls clouded their heads;

I pulled up the covers, and put down my cap,

And I settled down for a short winter's nap,

When out on the bridge there arose such a clatter,

the unmistakable sound of machine gun chatter.

Away to the command room I flew like a flash,

rushed up the ladder and threw open the hatch.

The watch crew was brave as guns spit hot lead

the chief of the watch crew shouted “Flugzeug ahead!”,

When I looked up above, oh what did I see?

Twas a Sunderland bomber diving on me!

I ordered a crash dive, we had to be quick!

Alarm bells were ringing, the sound made me sick!

More rapid than schnellboots this Sunderland came,

The crew must be faster! So I called them by name;

"Now, Donner! now, Jurgen! now, Helmut and Fritz!

get your asses to the bow or we’ll be in deep sh*t!

From the stern to the bow and each bulk head between!

“Move your butts boys! This Sunderland’s mean!"

The depth charges fell as the bomber roared by,

and the bomber pulled up to return to the sky,

All around the u-boat the depth charges flew,

encircling us in a second or two.

And then, in a heartbeat, I heard splashes above

I expected a jostle a jolt and a shove.

as the crew held on tightly, expecting the worst

not one single depth charge let out its burst.

Were they all duds? Was this some kind of trick?

One thing was certain this pilot was slick!

He dove in the darkness, and pin-pointed us right,

we all should be fish food on this holy night.

When our boat hit the surface oh what did we see?

Twas a dozen depth charges afloat on the sea!

Bernard looked at me and he cleared up his throat

“Herr kaleun, depth charges are not meant to float”

I peered at the watch crew as we all scratched our heads,

“A perfect pattern men… we should all be dead”

were they timed?, or magnetic? Or old contact mines?

The Watch officer said “Hey look they have signs”,

And I laughed when I saw what each sign had said;

The crew spoke no English so aloud I had read,

As the words left my lips the whole world seemed right…

"Happy Christmas old Fritz, There’s no war tonight!"

Merry Christmas to all at Subsim,
~GoldenRivet

Task Force · 12-21-08, 10:04 PM

I like this version better.

Laufen zum Ziel · 12-21-08, 10:20 PM

Me 2...

Happy holidays all.

sunvalleyslim · 12-22-08, 03:35 PM

Outstanding poem GoldenRivet..............enjoyed it very much

Brag · 12-22-08, 04:29 PM

Rivet, you outdid yourself!
Very nice pome

.
Slick ending.

Happy Christmas to you too.

GoldenRivet · 12-22-08, 05:09 PM

Thanks guys. glad you liked it cause i did it for all here!

U-84 · 12-23-08, 12:52 AM

outstanding

...because of this, I'm beginning to give thought of giving the Tommies a break for a day.

A Very Super Market · 12-23-08, 12:54 AM

*sniff.. If I get 4 duds in a row on Christmas day, I know who to blame/thank. The torpedomen get so emotional.

papa_smurf · 12-23-08, 10:47 AM

Very nicely done

Merry Christmas to all!

Gerald · 12-23-08, 10:55 AM

Now we talking.

GoldenRivet · 12-16-13, 10:10 PM

thought i would bump this for some of the newer members in light of the holiday season

hope those who have not seen it enjoy it

Cybermat47 · 12-16-13, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

thought i would bump this for some of the newer members in light of the holiday season

hope those who have not seen it enjoy it

YOU'RE SO DAMN POETIC

von Spam · 12-17-13, 12:19 AM

Day one newcomer here - that was a nice read.

Merry Christmas, all

Herr-Berbunch · 12-17-13, 02:52 AM

Welcome aboard von Spam

And great work GR.

12-21-08, 10:00 PM	#1
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Twas the night before... 'Twas the night before Christmas, aboard our U-boat Not a single ship spotted, in Churchill’s big moat; The torpedoes were loaded in each tube with care, In hopes that some merchants soon would be there; The crewmen were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of French girls clouded their heads; I pulled up the covers, and put down my cap, And I settled down for a short winter's nap, When out on the bridge there arose such a clatter, the unmistakable sound of machine gun chatter. Away to the command room I flew like a flash, rushed up the ladder and threw open the hatch. The watch crew was brave as guns spit hot lead the chief of the watch crew shouted “Flugzeug ahead!”, When I looked up above, oh what did I see? Twas a Sunderland bomber diving on me! I ordered a crash dive, we had to be quick! Alarm bells were ringing, the sound made me sick! More rapid than schnellboots this Sunderland came, The crew must be faster! So I called them by name; "Now, Donner! now, Jurgen! now, Helmut and Fritz! get your asses to the bow or we’ll be in deep sht! From the stern to the bow and each bulk head between! “Move your butts boys! This Sunderland’s mean!" The depth charges fell as the bomber roared by, and the bomber pulled up to return to the sky, All around the u-boat the depth charges flew, encircling us in a second or two. And then, in a heartbeat, I heard splashes above I expected a jostle a jolt and a shove. as the crew held on tightly, expecting the worst not one single depth charge let out its burst. Were they all duds? Was this some kind of trick? One thing was certain this pilot was slick! He dove in the darkness, and pin-pointed us right, we all should be fish food on this holy night. When our boat hit the surface oh what did we see? Twas a dozen depth charges afloat on the sea! Bernard looked at me and he cleared up his throat “Herr kaleun, depth charges are not meant to float” I peered at the watch crew as we all scratched our heads, “A perfect pattern men… we should all be dead” were they timed?, or magnetic? Or old contact mines? The Watch officer said “Hey look they have signs”, And I laughed when I saw what each sign had said; The crew spoke no English so aloud I had read, As the words left my lips the whole world seemed right…* *"Happy Christmas old Fritz, There’s no war tonight!"* *Merry Christmas to all at Subsim,* *~GoldenRivet* __________________ Last edited by GoldenRivet; 12-16-13 at 10:38 PM.

12-21-08, 10:04 PM	#2
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I like this version better. __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

12-21-08, 10:20 PM	#3
Laufen zum Ziel Eternal Patrol Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hiding on the bottom Posts: 1,783 Downloads: 853 Uploads: 457	Me 2... Happy holidays all. __________________ RIP Laufen zum Ziel

12-22-08, 03:35 PM	#4
sunvalleyslim Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 1,142 Downloads: 267 Uploads: 0	Outstanding poem GoldenRivet..............enjoyed it very much __________________ Crew member/ decommission member TM2(SS)(SD) 3/68-7/70 DIESEL BOATS FOREVER USS SEGUNDO (SS398)

12-22-08, 04:29 PM	#5
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Rivet, you outdid yourself! Very nice pome . Slick ending. Happy Christmas to you too. __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

12-22-08, 05:09 PM	#6
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Thanks guys. glad you liked it cause i did it for all here! __________________

12-23-08, 12:52 AM	#7
U-84 Medic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: under you in my VIIC Posts: 168 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	outstanding ...because of this, I'm beginning to give thought of giving the Tommies a break for a day. __________________ Never fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning- Field Marshall Erwin Rommel Courage is being scared to death, but saddeling up anyways- John Wayne

12-23-08, 12:54 AM	#8
A Very Super Market The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Deep in the Wild Canadian suburbs. Posts: 1,468 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	*sniff.. If I get 4 duds in a row on Christmas day, I know who to blame/thank. The torpedomen get so emotional. __________________ The entire German garrison of Vanviken, right here in your thread!

12-23-08, 10:47 AM	#9
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Very nicely done Merry Christmas to all! __________________

12-23-08, 10:55 AM	#10
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Great poem!!! Now we talking. __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

12-16-13, 10:10 PM	#11
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	thought i would bump this for some of the newer members in light of the holiday season hope those who have not seen it enjoy it __________________

12-17-13, 12:19 AM	#13
von Spam Nub Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Tasmania, AU Posts: 3 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Day one newcomer here - that was a nice read. Merry Christmas, all

12-17-13, 02:52 AM	#14
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	Welcome aboard von Spam And great work GR. __________________