Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BIG BLACK TRAWLER, by ALFRED NOYES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BIG BLACK TRAWLER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The very best ship that ever I knew
Last Line: Oh, sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run.
Subject(s): March (month); Sea; Ships & Shipping; Singing & Singers; Ocean


THE very best ship that ever I knew
-- Ah-way O, to me O --
Was a big black trawler with a deep-sea crew --
Sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run.

There was one old devil with a broken nose
-- Ah-way O, to me O --
He was four score years, as I suppose --
But, sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run.

We was wrecked last March, in a Polar storm
-- Ah-way O, to me O --
And we asked the old cripple if his feet was warm --
Sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run.

And the old, old devil (he was ninety at the most)
-- Ah-way O, to me O --
Roars, "Ay, warm as a lickle piece of toast" --
So sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run.

"For I soaked my sea-boots and my dungarees
-- Ah-way O, to me O --
In the good salt water that the Lord don't freeze" --
Oh, sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run.





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