A Sea Song from the Shore

Hail! Ho!

Sail! Ho!

Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!

Who calls to me,

So far at sea?

Only a little boy!

Sail! Ho!

Hail! Ho!

The sailor he sails the sea:

I wish he would capture

A little sea-horse

And send him home to me.

I wish, as he sails

Through the tropical gales,

He would catch me a sea-bird, too,

With its silver wings

And the song it sings,

And its breast of down and dew!

I wish he would catch me a

Little mermaid,

Some island where he lands,

With her dripping curls,

And her crown of pearls,

And the looking-glass in her hands!

Hail! Ho!

Sail! Ho!

Sail far o'er the fabulous main!

And if I were a sailor,

I'd sail with you,

Though I never sailed back again.

—James Whitcomb Riley.