Down at the Docks

In Greek legend, Galatea is a sea-nymph who loves a mortal boy named Acis. The monster Cyclops named Polyphemus loves Galatea and kills the boy. Galatea runs away and rejoins the sea nymphs.

Here is my modern retelling of the story:

DOWN AT THE DOCKS

by Brett Rutherford

One-eyed Paulie had this Gal, you see.
Gal was all they called her.
Oh, he had his eye on her.
She had both eyes on Acey,
who, having a preference
for the sailors,
wouldn’t even glance her way.

It was sad to watch it happen.
Paulie made his eye-patch wet
with weeping — Gal moped away,
pale as dried cod — Acey
missed out on all the flirting
that other guys would swoon for,
’cause he was buyin’ drinks
for all the Merchant Marine.

It reached a head one night
when Paulie caught Acey
behind The Gold Talon,
and skewered him good
with an old harpoon.
All things considered,
cops looked the other way,
Acey being, you know,
what was he doing there,
anyway, up to no good?

Then Paulie found Gal
just walkin’ the pier,
and as he tells it, “Look,
I just grabbed her.
I couldn’t help myself.”

She slid away from him
as smooth as an eel.
Fell in, she did, and sank.
They dived, they looked.
No sign of her.

Down at the docks, you need
to stay clear of one-eyed Paulie.
All he can think about is Gal,
and all he says is that
she’s off with the mermaids,
not dead at all, not dead,
not that. He moans,
“All I did was to grab her.
I couldn’t help myself.”