About the Crew

Tuesday, 19 November 2002

I've noticed that one or two of my fellow bloggers are referring to the "crew" of my little satiric vessel. I think I should put it on record that the word "crew" is a polite fiction: the rest of them succumbed to the fine old maritime tradition of cannibalism in adversity long ago. Like Walt Whitman, I contain multitudes, but more in the manner of Gilbert's "elderly naval man":

Oh, I am a cook and a captain bold,
And the mate of the NANCY brig,
And a bo'sun tight, and a midshipmite,
And the crew of the captain's gig.