The North-east Trade blows and you cross the Line
Anon. There Neptune boards your bark to shave
All the green-horns. Miss Fanny cries “How fine
For old aunt Kate! Let’s see how she’ll behave!
She has some stubble on her chin! For mine” –
“Peace there you little minx! Learn to be grave!”
Hush! list! list! “Ship ahoy.” “The Salamander.”
“Aye! my friend, Captain Mizenboom, commander.”
“Aye, aye!” “Welcome, old boy, to my domain!
I hope as how all’s well in England now.”
“All’s well!” “So your old ship’s got out again!
A tight sea-boat! Bound for the Bay, I vow!
How goes the war on between France and Spain?”
“They’ve spliced the main brace, Neptune, and the row
Is past already.” “Well, there, pretty Miss,
Old Neptune gives each lady fair a kiss.”
“Nay! but you sha’n’t, Neptune, you sha’n’t kiss me.
There’s my aunt Kate – look at her long black chin,
She waits there to be shaved so patiently.
Neptune, upon my word, it were a sin
To miss my aunt! Look, Neptune, don’t you see
She waits there till your shaving work begin.
You sha’ n’t! I’d rather leap into the water
Than let such black cheeks kiss my father’s daughter.”
“I’ll give thee one small smack, Miss, howsomedever.”
“Well, Neptune, you’re a very rude, rude fellow;
You’ve made me all as black as a coal-heaver;
You’ve so besmeared me with your soot and tallow.
“I thinks as how you’re very cross, Miss; Shiver
My timbers! but your sweet face looks quite sallow
Fair Polly of Portsea aint half so pretty.”
“Neptune, pray don’t forget to shave aunt Kitty.”
(John Dunmore Lang)
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Based on Topics: War & Peace Poems, Friendship Poems, Education Poems, Water Poems, Sin Poems, Kiss Poems, Daughters Poems, Learning Poems, England PoemsBased on Keywords: salamander, besmeared, spliced, minx, mizenboom, sea-boat, portsea