Cole Porter and the cow

before the cake was served,
a jazzy cow perched atop
the fireman's ladder and
milked the scene for
all it could;
chilled champagne
with busty clowns
and dancing by ballerinas
almost sank the boat;
the captain in his cabin
wore a dress uniform
while holding
a smoking pipe;
one male passenger
who was afraid of
seasickness
emptied a bag of toys;
a holly wreath
bought for the holidays
hung from the ceiling
in the main lounge
with the inscription
'Homeward Bound';
before the cruise was over,
Cole Porter finished his last
musical piece and went off
to find a new place:
Cap d'Antibes was too hot
in the summer for the English,
but the splendid piano stayed in tune
while he was at the bench.