A Spenserian Master's Tale:

[tectak]

For twenty years and more she made me ventBloody funny site, this. I use the word "vent" in one poem and suddenly everybody is venting...feathered and inconsequentially....but what do YOU mean here?
upon the rolling rooftops of the sea.Excelled yourself , here, billy. This is rolling along nicely
I shredded mainsail in my discontent
and broke her back or so it seemed to beYes to leannes "me" not "be"

Ashore; I often paced along the quay-Dont like dashes, don't know what they mean. Comma after ashore I think, comma after quay
a taste of briny spray upon my lipsemi colon after lip then "yearning for orders......"
and yearned for orders that would set me free;no punctuation after free
to leave the harbour empty, in my ship.

Negotiate around Africa's tip;NAVIGATE around the Good Hope's tip
or traverse winds along the Tasman Strait.
It never mattered where, or on what trip,
as long as we could float and carry freight.

It's all steam now, no need for canvas sails,
no need for dogs like me, no need for tales.

The rest....very commendable. I like this very much. The last slipped-in couplet is plungingly poignant. I can see the old dog swig his rum and move on. Love it.