Analysis of Light Beer and Sailboat Love

Craig Westover 1950 (Everett WA)



I know that gal of which you speak.
I knew her months ago.
She sure did like her light beer --
Sailors? … Ahh, so-so.
I met her at a seaside bar;
We went back to my boat.
I offered her a rum drink,
And that hit a sour note. …

She said:
I don't drink rum, it makes me fat --
Got to keep looking svelte and cool.
I want to keep this body looking great
So I can turn heads by the pool.
Don't try plying me with liquor,
It's got calories you know.
I'll just have a light beer,
And then I have to go.

I said:
Light beer and sailboat love
Are both fucking close to water.
One's less filling, one feels great --
Let's go below and cut the debate --
I ain't thirsty, the beer can wait --
Let's make sailboat love.

She said:
Don't be crass and don't be crude.
I'm not that kind of girl.
Sorry, you're just not my type --
A swine before my pearl.
This light beer is less filling,
So I can have one more.
But then I must be going --
Don't think that I'm a whore.

I said:
Light beer and sailboat love
Are both fucking close to water.
One's less filling, one feels great --
Let's go below and cut the debate --
I ain't thirsty, the beer can wait --
Let's make sailboat love.

She said:
You know the night is kind of chill --
We might just go below.
But don't get any horney thoughts,
'Cause soon I have to go.
But all the light beer's in the cooler
(You sure do have a stock),
And I guess I'll have just one more,
Before I hit the dock.

I said:
Light beer and sailboat love
Are both fucking close to water.
One's less filling, one feels great --
Let's go below and cut the debate --
I ain't thirsty, the beer can wait --
Let's make sailboat love.

She said:
Boy, it must be getting rough,
The cabin's in a spin.
I should have left some time ago,
It's quite a fix I'm in.
I sure could use a light beer,
It's less filling that's for sure.
What's that you say about sailboat love?
It's a great hangover cure?

I said:
Light beer and sailboat love
Are both fucking close to water.
One's less filling, one feels great --
Let's go below and cut the debate --
I ain't thirsty, the beer can wait --
Let's make sailboat love.

And so:
I was in a bar weeks later
When I saw that gal once more.
She was sitting with a sailor
At a table by the door.
In his hand he held a light beer --
Her voice was strong and clear.
Across the noisy room it echoed,
And plainly I could hear --

She said:
Light beer and sailboat love
Are both fucking close to water.
One's less filling, one feels great --
Let's find your boat and cut the debate --
I ain't thirsty, the beer can wait --
Let's make sailboat love.


Scheme xabaxcxc Dxefegaba DHGFFFH Dxixijkjk DHGFFFH Dxaxaglkl DHGFFFH Dxmambnhn DHGFFFH agkgkbbxx DHGFfFH
Poetic Form
Metre 11111111 110101 1111011 10111 1101011 111111 1100011 0110101 11 11111111 11110101 1111110101 11111101 11101110 1110011 111011 011111 11 11011 11101110 1110111 110101001 11100111 1111 11 1110111 111111 1011111 010111 1111110 111111 1111110 111101 11 11011 11101110 1110111 110101001 11100111 1111 11 11011111 111101 11110101 111111 110110010 111101 01111111 011101 11 11011 11101110 1110111 110101001 11100111 1111 11 1111101 01001 11111101 110110 1111011 1110111 11110111 101101 11 11011 11101110 1110111 110101001 11100111 1111 01 11001110 1111111 11101010 1010101 01111011 011101 010101110 010111 11 11011 11101110 1110111 111101001 11100111 1111
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 2,587
Words 592
Sentences 36
Stanzas 11
Stanza Lengths 8, 9, 7, 9, 7, 9, 7, 9, 7, 9, 7
Lines Amount 88
Letters per line (avg) 21
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 171
Words per stanza (avg) 47

About this poem

I can't take credit for the punch line of this little ditty. I first heard the pun as a comparison between American beer and making love in a canoe -- the biting humor of Monty Python. But hey! There's no good reason for all those paddle-happy canoe jockeys to have all the fun. Besides, there is a certain amount of physical (and mental) instability involved in having an amorous encounter in a canoe that makes the V-berth of a 22-foot sloop look downright luxurious. Thus was conceived "Light Beer and Sailboat Love. " It's dedicated to all male chauvinists and the women who love us. 

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Written on June 02, 1991

Submitted by WESTOVER on September 01, 2022

Modified by WESTOVER on September 01, 2022

3:09 min read
10

Craig Westover

Retired communications professional living on a 40-ft trawler, "IdleTheme," cruising between Brunswick. GA and The Bahamas. more…

All Craig Westover poems | Craig Westover Books

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