The Shadow Ship

The shadow ship slips silently
Across the deathly bay
And from her spars, amid the ropes
A tune was heard to play.

The tune piped out so mournfully
As night replaced the day
And from her depths the shadows came
To dance the night away.

The shadows bowed and whirled around
Their hazy coats pale grey
And tripped a hornpipe to the stars
On the thirty-first of May.

While mirthless was their laughter here
While fiendish was their play
My heart was filled with sadness deep
For the shadows of Botany Bay.