Ebook The Collected Poems of John Masefield

The dockside loafers talked on the quay The day that she towed down to sea Lord, what a handsome ship she be Cheer her, sonny boys, three times three And the dockside loafers gave her a shout As the red-funnelled tug-boat towed her out They gave her a cheer as the custom is, And the crew yelled Take our loves to Liz Three cheers, bullies, for old Pier Head 'n' the bloody stay-at-homes they said. Hear the yarn of a sailor, An old yarn learned at sea. In the grey of the coming on of night She dropped the tug at the Tuskar Light, 'n' the topsails went to the topmast head To a chorus that fairly awoke the dead. She trimmed her yards and slanted South With her royals set and a bone in her mouth. Hear the yarn of a sailor, An Old yarn learned at sea.