BY THE SEA.
I started early, took my dog, And visited the sea;The mermaids in the basement Came out to look at me, And frigates in the upper floor Extended hempen hands, Presuming me to be a mouse Aground, upon the sands.
But no man moved me till the tide Went past my ****** shoe, And past my apron and my belt, And past my bodice too, And made as he would eat me up As wholly as a dew Upon a dandelion's sleeve --And then I started too.
And he -- he followed close behind;
I felt his silver heel Upon my ankle, -- then my shoes Would overflow with pearl.
Until we met the solid town, No man he seemed to know;And bowing with a mighty look At me, the sea withdrew.