Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TWICKENHAM FERRY by THEOPHILE JULIUS HENRY MARZIALS

First Line: AHOY! AND O-HO! AND IT'S WHO'S FOR THE FERRY?'
Last Line: THERE'S DANGER IN CROSSING TO TWICKENHAM TOWN.
Subject(s): FERRY BOATS; LOVE; MOON; TWICKENHAM, ENGLAND;

"Ahoy! and O-ho! and it's who's for the ferry?"
(The briar's in bud and the sun going down)
"And I'll row ye so quick and I'll row ye so steady,
And 'tis but a penny to Twickenham Town."
The ferryman's slim and the ferryman's young,
With just a soft tang in the turn of his tongue;
And he's fresh as a pippin and brown as a berry,
And 't is but a penny to Twickenham Town.

"Ahoy! and O-ho! and it's I'm for the ferry,"
(The briar's in bud and the sun going down)
"And it's late as it is and I haven't a penny --
Oh! how can I get me to Twickenham Town?"
She'd a rose in her bonnet, and oh! she look'd sweet
As the little pink flower that grows in the wheat,
With her cheeks like a rose and her lips like a cherry --
"It's sure but you're welcome to Twickenham Town."

"Ahoy! and O-ho!" -- You're too late for the ferry,
(The briar's in bud and the sun has gone down)
And he's not rowing quick and he's not rowing steady;
It seems quite a journey to Twickenham Town.
"Ahoy! and O-ho!" you may call as you will;
The young moon is rising o'er Petersham Hill;
And, with Love like a rose in the stern of the wherry,
There's danger in crossing to Twickenham Town.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net