Dick Foote and the Shark

Dick Foote is a sea-fearing poet, his father a sea-faring Philistine. Commissioned to write a poem about the ocean, Dick sails with his father to find out first-hand and proves that poetry can be useful: his ode charms an attacking shark and saves the boat. "And they say in the town that John Foote kept his frown And complained about Dick Just the same. But a glimmer of pride that he couldn't quite hide Shone out when he spoke his son's name."