Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WONDERFUL FISHING OF PETERKIN SPRAY, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WONDERFUL FISHING OF PETERKIN SPRAY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A fisherman bold was peterkin spray
Last Line: And he sailed and he sailed and he sailed away.
Subject(s): Boats; Fish & Fishing; Sailing & Sailors; Salmon; Seashore; Beach; Coast; Shore


A FISHERMAN bold was Peterkin Spray,
And he sailed and he sailed and he sailed away.
And when he got there, he embarked once more
Down the path that leads to the Sun's back door.
"Ho, Ho," said the Sun, "here is Fisherman Spray,
But the cook doesn't need any salmon to-day."

"Too bad, Mr. Sun," said Peterkin Spray,
And he sailed and he sailed and he sailed away,
But the wind was so light that 'twas half past eight
When he called his wares at the Moon-man's gate.
"Fresh fish!" he cried, but the Moon-man said,
"I never eat fish when I'm going to bed."

"What a fussy old Moon!" sighed Peterkin Spray,
And he sailed and he sailed and he sailed away,
And when he got there, he exclaimed "My Stars!
I had almost forgotten to call on Mars."
"Fine fish," cried Mars and he smacked his lips,
"Charge a dozen or so to my next eclipse!"

"O dear, O dear!" sighed Peterkin Spray,
And he sailed and he sailed and he sailed away,
And when he got there, he declared, "I wish
I never, never had learned to fish.
For some won't buy and others won't pay,
And I'm tired, and tired of sailing away!"

"I know what I'll do!" said Peterkin Spray,
And he turned his boat down the Milky Way.
He opened the Dipper (yes, honest, he did!)
He popped in his cargo, and slapped down the lid.
"Here's a kettle of fish!" laughed Peterkin Spray.
And he sailed and he sailed and he sailed away.





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