The house boat had many people enjoying themselves late at night. There was a large mast dancing in the breeze, conical rooms fitted with lamps, and a kitchen overrun with mice. Voices were rising in chorus along with the aromas of whisky and roasting octopus as fires crackled on the deck. Though waves crashed and soaked the passengers, the gypsies were enjoying the party with hours left before dawn.

1. HOUSE BOAT
The straw brimmed hat bobbed on the surface of the sea,
sleek motorboats churned through white froth of water,
pearly white shark glided harmlessly beneath a plethora of marine shrub,
the sun blazed violently from behind dirty grey cloud covers,
strong pouches of wind caused the waves to rise sky high,
thereby toppling the hat into deep territories of the emerald green ocean.
high powered torch beams cut tranquil stillness of the night,
the huge mast danced tantalizingly in the breeze,
large walls of timber were coated with wax paint,
conical rooms were fitted with paraffin lamp,
there were a battalion of mice on the kitchen floor,
pungent aroma of maize whisky floated in the air,
a pandemonium of voices rose in chorused unison,
crackling fires burnt on the broad steel deck,
menacing octopus roasted on barbecue grills,
blasting tunes diffused from the programmed loudspeaker,
gentle silver light of the moon engulfed their bodies,
big drops of the salt and mineral struck them in frenzy,
the gypsies were having the time of their lives,
with several hours left before the next brilliant dawn,
and a host of sea food bubbling in red hot steam of the oven,
as the two storeyed house boat gathered spurts of speed,
galloping towards realms of the distantly stretched Black horizon.