Tradition

Here's a piece of nautical tradition that may be on the wane.

The midwatch log entry for 1 Jan is traditionally written in VERSE. The NAVY TIMES used to run a contest & publish the best

Here's one from the USCGC SWEETBRIER:

BY THE CHANGE OF A SECOND, THE MIDNIGHT HOUR IS PAST
AS DOES THE OLD YEAR, FOREVER GONE, NEVER LAST.
THE WATCH IS SET AND STARTS A NEW SHEET
TO LOG THE STATUS OF THE ROSE OF THE FLEET.

IN CHARLIE SHE SITS FOR THE DAWN OF THE NEW YEAR,
MOORED PORTSIDE TO THE CORDOVA CITY PIER.
THE NORTHERNMOST HOMEPORTED U.S. SHIP IS SHE,
FOR SHE RESTS ABOVE LATITUDE 60-33.

ABOVE HER SEASONED DECKS HER ENSIGN FLIES HIGH
STIFF WINDS MOVING THROUGH HER MAST WITH A CRY.
SIXTY KNOT GUSTS WILL NOT ENDANGER HER MOOR
FOR DOUBLE-UPS ARE ON LINES ONE AND FOUR.

WAIST LINES ARE RIGGED FORE AND AFT
SO ARCTIC WINDS WILL NOT ENDANGER THIS CRAFT.
HER LATERAL POSITION WILL ALSO STAY TRUE
DUE TO QUARTER LINES THREE AND TWO.

BELOW A KEEL SET BY IRON AND SWEAT
LIES A MUDDY BOTTON TWELVE FEET WET.
WATER TWO KNOTS FAST PASSES ALONGSIDE
RANGING NINETEEN FEET THIS SPRING TIDE.

DECK AND MOORING LIGHTS DISPLAYED NIGHTLY
ARE ENERGIZED AND BURNING BRIGHTLY.
AND FOR THE SEAPLANES TO BEHOLD
ALL AIRCRAFT WARNING LIGHTS SHINE BRIGHT AND BOLD.

THE SMALL BOATS, THEY ARE QUITE STABLE
NUMBERS TWO AND THREE HELD ON DECK BY CABLE.
AND SWEETBRIER ONE IS AT THE STARBOARD LOW RAIL,
READY TO HANDLE LOCAL SAR WITHOUT FAIL.

MESSAGES ARE SENT ANYTIME WHEN,
THANKS TO LANDLINE 39-10.
AND WITH D17 WE MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION
FOR AS OPCON/ADCON THEY MUST KNOW OUR SITUATION.

ENSIGN SCHMIDT IS THE OOD
WITH DUTY SECTION TWO TO OVERSEE.
SECTION ONE, THREE AND FOUR ARE ASHORE, AS IS WISE
FOR THEIR LIBERTY IS AUTHORIZED.

0845 THIS DAY WILL EXPIRE
SECTION THREE'S LIBERTY BEFORE WE RETIRE.
AND ON JANUARY 87, THE SECOND DAY,
LIBERTY EXPIRES FOR ALL HANDS AWAY.

WE ARE THE ROSE OF THE FLEET BY NICKNAME
A MULTI-MISSION VESSEL JUST THE SAME.
WITH A CALL TO DUTY AND A COURSE TO STEER
SEMPER PARATUS THROUGHOUT THE NEW YEAR.