It is well-established in Naval tradition that the first deck log entry
of the new year is written in verse.  On New Year's Day, 1998, I drew 
upon the genius of Poe to scribe this entry in the deck log of SEAL Team
FOUR.



Once upon a midnight chilly, while I pondered, willy nilly,
  Over what to write in this quaint and curious tome of Naval lore,
    While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
   As of someone gently rapping, rapping at the outer door.
  "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "who doesn't know to use the buzzer-
                Only this, and nothing more."

    Ah, distinctly I remember with the DPO in bleak December,
  And that enlisted lying member cast his swineness on the floor.
    Eagerly I wished for the dawn;- from this duty to be gone
For the Primestar had and long, my harried brow begun to bore-
  For now I wished my duty over, my night of life at SEAL Team Four
                To go home from SEAL Team FOUR

And the sudden loud uncertain thumping of Plexiglas curtain
  Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
    So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
    "'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at the outer door-
  Some late visitor entreating entrance at the outer door;-
                This it is, and nothing more."

    Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
  "Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
    But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
    And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at the outer door,
  That I scarce was sure I heard you"- "DPO go open wide the door";-
                Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering,
        fearing,
  Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
    But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
    And the boredom waxing quickly, I knew I must resume my chore"
  Yes I must resume the dull and dreary task I now do deplore-
                Merely this, and nothing more.

    Back to the quarterdeck turning, all my soul within me burning,
   Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
    "Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
    Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore-
  Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;-
                'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and
        flutter,
  In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
    Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed
        he;
    But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above the inner door-
  Perched upon a quote of Clausewitz just above the inner door-
                Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

   Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
  By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
   "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no
        craven,
   Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore-
  Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
                Quoth the Raven, "SEAL Team FOUR."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
  Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
    For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
    Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above the inner door-
  Bird or beast upon the carven quote above the inner door,
                With such name as "SEAL Team FOUR."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the carven quote, spoke only
  That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
    Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered-
    Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown
        before-
  On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
                Then the bird said, "SEAL Team FOUR."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
  "Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
     Caught from some delighted frogman whom his Navy career gave him
     A job, which he remembered ever till his songs one memory, bore
  Till the songs of his Hope that one happy name did hold in store
                In favor- 'SEAL Team FOUR'."

    But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
  Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and quote and
        door;
    Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
    Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-
  What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
                Meant in croaking "SEAL Team FOUR."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
  Then the DPO said, "Hey, cake-eater, you'd better call Commander Bo;
    This is strange, nothing stranger, it seems to me to speak of danger.
    Aboard Little Creek no stranger thing was ever seen before."
 But said I, "'tis naught that I would want to wake the Skipper for.
                He'll not be called, it's nearly four!

    Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
  Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tiled floor.
    "Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he
        hath sent thee
    Respite- respite and nepenthe, from my duties which are such a chore!
  Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this utter bore!"
                Quoth the Raven, "SEAL Team FOUR."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!- prophet still, if bird or
        devil!-
  Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
    Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-
    On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore-
  Is there- is there balm in Gilead?- tell me- tell me, I implore!"
                Quoth the Raven, "SEAL Team FOUR."

 "Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil- prophet still, if bird or
        devil!
  By that Heaven that bends above us- by that God we both adore-
    Tell this soul and give me warning if, within the distant morning,
    I shall find a relief for me what does the dawning hold in store?-
  Will I find a respite from this utter dull and weary chore?"
                Quoth the Raven, "SEAL Team FOUR."

"Be those words our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked,
        upstarting-
  "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
    Leave no black plume as a token of that word thy soul hath spoken!
    Leave my boredom left unbroken!- quit the quote above my door!
  Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my
        door!"
               Quoth the Raven, "SEAL Team FOUR."

    And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
  On the carven quote of Clausewitz just above the inner door;
    And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
    And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the
        floor;
  And I shall remain in that shadow still floating on the floor
                Relief from Duty- nevermore!