Dick filled his tanks and grabbed his gear,
The sound of bubbles in his ears.
The call was loud, the urge was great;
He never missed a diving date.
"A few more miles to pick up Jim,
And then we're off," he said, but then
The thought just entered in his mind
That he had left his diving line.
Just what direction would he choose?
Would he go back, more time to lose?
How good was he at tempting fate?
"If I turn now, I'll sure be late."
He slowed his car as if to stop
To turn around but then he thought
"Oh well, the time, I'd rather save;
Besides, I really know that cave."
Beep! Beep! "Hey Jim! Let's go! Can't wait!
You do recall our diving date?"
"I'll be right there in just a flash;
I'll get my gear and then we'll dash."
So off they went, a happy pair,
Just Dick and Jim, without a care.
But then a thought came through Dick's mind-
"Just what about that diving line?"
"Should I tell Jim and spoil his day?
I wonder what I'm going to say.
Oh well, I'll wait till we get there.
I know ole Jim, he just won't care."
When they arrived they scarce could wait
To carry out there diving date.
But then ole Jim said something queer-
"Do we have all our diving gear?"
"I see our lights, our fins and mask,
Our suits, belts, P.C.P.'s and that
Is all, the watch, of course, is mine;
But tell me, where's your diving line?"
Dick's face was flushed, his tongue was tied;
He looked at Jim and then he lied.
"Don't you remember, friend so true,
I left the diving line with you."
Jim looked at Dick, what could he say?
Could he have really ruined their day?
He racked his brain, he scratched his head-
"Could I have left it 'neath my bed?"
Then doubts began to plague ole Jim
How could he spoiled Dick's day for him?
He thought and thought of what to do.
"How could I fail my friend, so true?"
"Don't worry Pal," said smiling Dick,
"That old, dark cave's an easy trick.
It's fine with me, if you don't care.
I'll go with you, I'll take the dare."
Jim felt so bad for what he'd done
He said "OK, let's have some fun."
They suited up, no easy task.
They donned their gear, their fins, then mask.
The spring was clear and undisturbed
No birds, no frogs, no sound was heard.
But far below where drop no tears
The sound of bubbles filled their ears.
The cave was black, the water, cold.
Oh how could they have been so bold.
How ignorant and how unaware
Of dangers that await them there.
The mouth was large, an easy in.
Ole Dick, with mouthpiece, gave a grin
And thought, how easy this will be.
It's just like counting 1, 2, 3.
They penetrated deep within
And each new room a thrill to them
A hallway left, another, right,
And soon the silt obscured their light.
The hallway narrowed way too thin
And ole Dick's face held no more grin.
To turn about was no neat trick.
They new they better leave right quick.
Dick gave the high sign, "Let's get out."
"It's time to go without a doubt."
Ole Jim agreed, so back they came
But fear had gripped them just the same.
Their faces paled, their lights grew dim,
All tunnels looked the same to them.
The die was cast, the coin was tossed;
And then they realized they were lost.
Ten minutes passed, eight at the least;
Their air consumption had increased.
But still they looked to their dismay,
Still hoping they could find the way.
Jim gazed upon hi sea-view gauge
And what he saw 'most made him age.
It wasn't good, in fact, 'twas bad
300 lbs was all he had.
Dick's showed 500, that was it.
But still he knew they couldn't quit.
Cold chills invaded both their spines
They'd really fixed themselves this time.
Three minutes more had passed them by;
Was this their fate, were they to die?
One thought kept creeping through their mind-
A picture of that diving line.
Dick prayed, "Dear God, I know you're mad.
I know I've made you very sad
I lied to Jim about that line;
I'll make it up to him in time."
"And please forgive me for my sin;
I promise not to lie again.
Oh God, I pray it's not too late
To be delivered from this fate."
Just then ole Jim gave Dick the sign,
His air was gone and so was time.
Dick gripped his shoulder, gently squeezed
As if to say, "Let's Buddy-Breathe."
They made their way, as best they could
By sharing air, as divers should.
Just then a bottle-neck took place,
The current swept them through the space.
So swiftly was the current fed
That Jim had sharply hit his head.
Unconsciously and deathly still
He floated there while Dick took ill.
The current swept them to a room
Where daylight seemed to break the gloom.
The mouth was there, 'twas plain to see,
At last they'd almost made it free.
Then Dick grabbed Jim right by the hair,
"Just 80 feet will get us there."
"Must remember all the rules,
I must not panic, I'm no fool."
So up they went so very slow.
Dick's air was gone, not even low
They broke the surface with their heads;
Alas, 'twas sad, ole Jim was dead.
Somewhere in early morning still
Ole Dick's alarm goes off and will
Awaken him from nightmare, grim
To bring relief and joy to him.
"'Twas all a dream!" Ole Dick did cry.
"I think I know the reason why."
He packed his gear, but took his time,
And this time took his diving line.
The sound of bubbles in his ears.
The call was loud, the urge was great;
He never missed a diving date.
"A few more miles to pick up Jim,
And then we're off," he said, but then
The thought just entered in his mind
That he had left his diving line.
Just what direction would he choose?
Would he go back, more time to lose?
How good was he at tempting fate?
"If I turn now, I'll sure be late."
He slowed his car as if to stop
To turn around but then he thought
"Oh well, the time, I'd rather save;
Besides, I really know that cave."
Beep! Beep! "Hey Jim! Let's go! Can't wait!
You do recall our diving date?"
"I'll be right there in just a flash;
I'll get my gear and then we'll dash."
So off they went, a happy pair,
Just Dick and Jim, without a care.
But then a thought came through Dick's mind-
"Just what about that diving line?"
"Should I tell Jim and spoil his day?
I wonder what I'm going to say.
Oh well, I'll wait till we get there.
I know ole Jim, he just won't care."
When they arrived they scarce could wait
To carry out there diving date.
But then ole Jim said something queer-
"Do we have all our diving gear?"
"I see our lights, our fins and mask,
Our suits, belts, P.C.P.'s and that
Is all, the watch, of course, is mine;
But tell me, where's your diving line?"
Dick's face was flushed, his tongue was tied;
He looked at Jim and then he lied.
"Don't you remember, friend so true,
I left the diving line with you."
Jim looked at Dick, what could he say?
Could he have really ruined their day?
He racked his brain, he scratched his head-
"Could I have left it 'neath my bed?"
Then doubts began to plague ole Jim
How could he spoiled Dick's day for him?
He thought and thought of what to do.
"How could I fail my friend, so true?"
"Don't worry Pal," said smiling Dick,
"That old, dark cave's an easy trick.
It's fine with me, if you don't care.
I'll go with you, I'll take the dare."
Jim felt so bad for what he'd done
He said "OK, let's have some fun."
They suited up, no easy task.
They donned their gear, their fins, then mask.
The spring was clear and undisturbed
No birds, no frogs, no sound was heard.
But far below where drop no tears
The sound of bubbles filled their ears.
The cave was black, the water, cold.
Oh how could they have been so bold.
How ignorant and how unaware
Of dangers that await them there.
The mouth was large, an easy in.
Ole Dick, with mouthpiece, gave a grin
And thought, how easy this will be.
It's just like counting 1, 2, 3.
They penetrated deep within
And each new room a thrill to them
A hallway left, another, right,
And soon the silt obscured their light.
The hallway narrowed way too thin
And ole Dick's face held no more grin.
To turn about was no neat trick.
They new they better leave right quick.
Dick gave the high sign, "Let's get out."
"It's time to go without a doubt."
Ole Jim agreed, so back they came
But fear had gripped them just the same.
Their faces paled, their lights grew dim,
All tunnels looked the same to them.
The die was cast, the coin was tossed;
And then they realized they were lost.
Ten minutes passed, eight at the least;
Their air consumption had increased.
But still they looked to their dismay,
Still hoping they could find the way.
Jim gazed upon hi sea-view gauge
And what he saw 'most made him age.
It wasn't good, in fact, 'twas bad
300 lbs was all he had.
Dick's showed 500, that was it.
But still he knew they couldn't quit.
Cold chills invaded both their spines
They'd really fixed themselves this time.
Three minutes more had passed them by;
Was this their fate, were they to die?
One thought kept creeping through their mind-
A picture of that diving line.
Dick prayed, "Dear God, I know you're mad.
I know I've made you very sad
I lied to Jim about that line;
I'll make it up to him in time."
"And please forgive me for my sin;
I promise not to lie again.
Oh God, I pray it's not too late
To be delivered from this fate."
Just then ole Jim gave Dick the sign,
His air was gone and so was time.
Dick gripped his shoulder, gently squeezed
As if to say, "Let's Buddy-Breathe."
They made their way, as best they could
By sharing air, as divers should.
Just then a bottle-neck took place,
The current swept them through the space.
So swiftly was the current fed
That Jim had sharply hit his head.
Unconsciously and deathly still
He floated there while Dick took ill.
The current swept them to a room
Where daylight seemed to break the gloom.
The mouth was there, 'twas plain to see,
At last they'd almost made it free.
Then Dick grabbed Jim right by the hair,
"Just 80 feet will get us there."
"Must remember all the rules,
I must not panic, I'm no fool."
So up they went so very slow.
Dick's air was gone, not even low
They broke the surface with their heads;
Alas, 'twas sad, ole Jim was dead.
Somewhere in early morning still
Ole Dick's alarm goes off and will
Awaken him from nightmare, grim
To bring relief and joy to him.
"'Twas all a dream!" Ole Dick did cry.
"I think I know the reason why."
He packed his gear, but took his time,
And this time took his diving line.
