The sea has long been a muse for poets, inspiring verses on vast horizons, perilous voyages, and the unique life of those who serve. Yet, perhaps one of the most surprising sources of navy poetry isn’t a published collection but resides within the dry, factual records of U.S. Navy deck logs. These official documents meticulously chronicle a ship’s daily life, movements, and operational status, governed by strict regulations that leave little room for creative expression.
Deck logs are the ship’s official diary, maintained by the Quartermaster of the Watch and approved by the Officer of the Deck (OOD). As noted by the U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command, they serve “as a permanent official record of the ship,” intended to be “efficient and succinct… professional in appearance, and certainly not a forum for creativity.” Every entry documents critical details: position, course, speed, weather, status of the engineering plant, personnel changes, and more. The emphasis is entirely on accurate, factual reporting for administrative and legal purposes.
The Curious Exception: New Year’s Midnight Watch
Despite the stringent requirements, a fascinating tradition emerged, allowing a brief, annual departure from the rigid format: the New Year’s Eve mid-watch log entry. On the first night of the New Year (midnight to 0400), a ship was permitted, and sometimes encouraged, to record the inaugural entry in verse. This served as a brief, often lighthearted, nod to the changing year, nestled among the otherwise clinical data points.
This practice of embedding naval poetry within official logs is believed to have originated in the 20th century and gained particular popularity during the Vietnam War era. The tradition became so widespread that the Navy Times even sponsored a “New Year’s Eve Log contest,” highlighting the unique blend of naval duty and poetic license.
However, naval culture is ever-evolving, and the tradition has seen a notable decline in recent years. The number of ships choosing to document their New Year’s mid-watch in verse has dwindled significantly, making the digitized logs from past decades a crucial archive of this unique form of poems about the navy.
USS America: A Vessel of Verse
The Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier USS America (CVA-66) stands out as a ship that frequently embraced this tradition, leaving behind a legacy of New Year’s log poems now preserved in the National Archives. Commissioned in 1965, America‘s history spans significant periods, including deployments during the Vietnam War. Her deck logs offer a fascinating glimpse into the ship’s operational life, occasionally punctuated by these unexpected poetic entries.
Let’s examine an example from America‘s log on New Year’s Day, 1966. The ship was anchored in Livorno, Italy, as the mid-watch began. The poem personifies the arrival of the New Year as a visitor coming aboard, cleverly weaving in the mandatory log details:
A visitor boardingnew from the East!To the OOP a reportis due at least.
“Reporting for dutyand full of good cheer,Permission to board sir,for I’m the new year.”
“Permission granted,and welcome to the crew.But be assured, friend,your name is not new.
“For 66 here,with numbers of goldHas had a head start –almost a year old.
She’s taut and she’s bold;her performance is true.Her record stands outabove quite a few.
“From Commissioning thru Shake Downon into the Fleet,She’s sailed and she’s flowna record to meet.
In service of country, far from home this night,She stands a mighty vanguardin the half-moon’s shimmering light.
“In 10 fathoms of waterat anchorage XRay-3America is anchoredat Liverno, Italy.
With 90 fathomsof chain to her bowShe’s anchored – secure from the Northwind’s howl
“The Liverno light at 028.8°shines its silent goriaAnd America lies 293°from Torre Della Meloria.
“The quartermaster is recording the lore.Her reading tonightis condition Four.
“The Marines are on guard,that you may betAnd the engineers provideus with condition Yoke set.
“In Liverno tonightyour eyes will meetVarious units of theU.S. Sixth Fleet
“Naturally SOPA haschosen the best.Rear Admiral COBB, CCDII,makes America his nest.
“Under the keen eyeof Polaris to the northHer lights thier [sic] good willare sending forth.
“Her reputation withhard work was won,For being 66means being number one.
“I’m proud to be aboardthis brave and true ship.”Our visitor impressed,he replied with a tip.
“I offer you hope –as the spirit of peace.Together we’ll sailfrom Naples to Greece.
“By joining our missionsof peace and of strength,We’ll make this a yearwith happiness in length!”
With all best wishes for the year of the “66”!
This log poem masterfully integrates specific details required by regulations—fathoms of water and chain, bearings to landmarks (Livorno light, Torre Della Meloria), ship’s status (Condition Four, Condition Yoke set), presence of other units (Sixth Fleet), and the senior officer present afloat (SOPA). It cloaks these facts within a dialogue, demonstrating a surprising degree of creativity under strict constraints, a unique characteristic of this form of navy poetry.
Years later, on New Year’s Day, 1969, USS America found herself back in Norfolk, Virginia. The log entry that year was more straightforward, yet still presented the mandatory information in verse:
Anchored in Hong Kong Harbor, Hong Kong, B.C.C.Eight fathoms of water, mud bottom below us, weLayed forty-eight fathoms of chain from the waters edgeTo the bow anchor beneath the sea.
This anchor bearing holds true tonightIt’s 324, 3000 yards to Stone Cutter’s Light.With the ship in readiness Condition IV, we’ve pledged,To set material condition Yoke and the following sights:
Normal lighting is in effect and anchor lights too,Plus aircraft warning, to name just a few;With Comcardin Seven, as SOPA, embarked aboard ship,The officers are safe, and so is the crew.
A happy new year to you all, and if you’re awake for the mid-watch, may it be uneventful!
While perhaps less ornate than the 1966 entry, the 1969 poem still adheres to the tradition, converting factual data—location, depth, chain length, bearing, readiness condition, lighting—into rhyming lines. These entries are not masterpieces of world literature, but they represent a fascinating micro-genre within naval poetry: verse born of duty and tradition, providing a fleeting moment of creative expression in the heart of bureaucratic record-keeping. Those interested in writing their own verses might even consider entering a poetry competition 2024.
These deck log poems offer a unique window into the human element of naval life, showing that even within the confines of strict military protocol, there was space, albeit limited, for imagination and verse. They are a testament to the unexpected places where naval poetry can be found, blending the demands of the sea with the timeless impulse to create. For more examples of poems about the navy, exploring themes of service and the sea, further research into historical logs and personal accounts can reveal hidden poetic gems.
Conclusion
The tradition of writing New Year’s log poems in the U.S. Navy is a captivating footnote in both naval history and the study of navy poetry. It highlights the tension between rigid structure and human creativity, demonstrating how even the most official documents can harbor moments of unexpected artistry. While the practice may be fading, the digitized deck logs ensure that these unique examples of verse, born on the high seas or in foreign ports, will continue to be discovered and appreciated by future generations. They serve as a charming reminder that the call to poetry can echo even through the most disciplined environments.