Leaving in the Morning
By Garland Davis
Walking along among the lights of Magsaysay Drive
Me and Mercy making our way toward the night
I can hear the songs from the entertainers, the girls
Begging sailors inside
Watching the summer sun slowly fall from sight
There’s a warm wind from over the bay
Filling the streets with the smell of Subic
Mercy pushes her hand into my hand
Said she likes the feel of her hand in mine
In the morning, the ship is leaving, making way to the Gunline
Tonight, I’m sure we’ll be just fine
For the time left together
And I know for tonight she will be mine
The band is playing in the country bar
I laid out the cash for a couple of drinks
And while we are dancing, she wraps her arms around me
And I can feel her arms and body pulling me in
While we sway to the music
She tells me she loves me
And I laugh because I know it isn’t true
But, our time together draws to an end tonight
And, Mercy, there’s so much I want to do with you.
Tales of an Asia Sailor 
ww2 Aussie poem I bumped into in ’66 wespac, Brisbane, Tiru ss416. Then we bumped into Fredrick Reef.
WYNYARD SAILOR
Sailor, we all stare at you
Not because we are laughing:
nor that we envy
the bottle on your hip
(beer as we know it should be cold),
and that girl with her grip
monkey-tight in your pocket
(better the blondes that grow old).
Sailor, we all stare at you
Not because we are laughing
although your wide trousers
go flippity flap
(we have worn clothes as odd)
and if your hat
makes a sailor-suit boy of you-
they say its the young who are god.
Sailor, we all stare at you,
because you are mystery:
one who has walked
on the dark of the green
while we were afraid to be drowned
one who has been
with the seas of great silence
and now touches ground
Sailor we all stare a you
because death has been under you
days have been seas
you have cast off from land
and now you’ve no home.
While we who have manned
this old coffin earth
have never, will never
face death having known.
RAY MATHEW
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Oh the memories we all had in the PI .. You called this one on point..
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This is so true. Been there done that. Brings back a lot of memories even though a lot of years have passed. Every time we pulled in she was always waiting for me. I know she was not true, it was her way of living but she always remembered me.
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Thank you for your great inshight.
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You have captured the same feelings in your words that I have had, still have for that “special One”. Although not true love…a love of the heart no less. It is amazing what the Asia Westpac Sailor has learned and can still learn. The memories are still very strong Garland…thanks for keeping them alive!
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A memory from a time ago, but you brought it to my mind too. Well composed Garland.
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I laugh when someone looks down their nose at a bar girl. I had a chance to get to know so many of them. And to know them well; their life, their story . . So many of them ARE BETTER PEOPLE THAN I WILL EVER BE.
These are relationships that have humbled me. Relationships that, over time (I am a slow learner), have helped ME to become a better (though flawed) human being.
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