A ship sets sail on the open ocean with 500 at its helm.
But wind and wave and sea born beast leave 300 to set the sails.
300 is too small to sail a large sea faring ship-
so 100 in three long boats go forth to brave the wisps.
Wouldn't you know that the sea is an ugly mistress
So 100 in just one boat end up the advent-tourists.
When land is far from you and sickness kills at sea,
Then 50 became that crew of 500's company.
And yet as the adventure waned, no land did these men see-
So after many months along, there were but 1, 2, 3!
And 3 men could not brave the whale, their boat was split in two!
Said one man to the other, this raft is too small for me and you.
And driftwood rafts with one man aboard
Cannot the open ocean bear-
If ship to feed or ship to join does not come soon I fear,
There won't be any of the 500 to sail again, anywhere.
The lesson's this for crews avast:
Be careful of your shipman's number
For those who dwindle will not last
Expand or die to feed the hunger.
Make note of this my Shipman friends
For I predict this now:
If you have listened then now you watch
The fate of the 500 from your bow
Whatever ship you sail on now...