Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SO LONG by CICELY FOX SMITH

First Line: ALL COILED DOWN, AN' IT'S TIME FOR US TO GO
Last Line: AN' SO LONG, SAILORMAN . . . GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
Subject(s): FAREWELL; SAILING & SAILORS; PARTING;

ALL coiled down, an' it's time for us to go;
Every sail's furled in a neat harbour stow;
Another ship for me, an' for her another crew --
An' so long, sailorman . . . good luck to you!

Fun an' friends I wish you till the pay's all gone --
Pleasure when you spend it an' content when it's done --
An' a chest that's not empty when you go back to sea,
An' a better ship than she's been -- an' a truer pal than me.

A good berth I wish you, in a ship that's well found,
With a decent crowd forrard, an' her gear all sound,
Spars a man can trust to when it's comin' on to blow,
An' no bosun bawlin' when it's your watch below.

A good Trade I wish you, an' a fair landfall,
Neither fog, nor iceberg, nor long clam, nor squall,
A pleasant port to come to when the work's all through --
An' so long, sailorman . . . good luck to you.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net