I STARTED early, took my dog, And visited the sea; The mermaids in the basement Came out to look at me, And frigates in the upper floor Extended hempen hands, Presuming me to be a mouse Aground, upon the sands. But no man moved me till the tide Went past my simple shoe, And past my apron and my belt, And past my bodice too, And made as he would eat me up As wholly as a dew Upon a dandelion's sleeve -- And then I started too. And he -- he followed close behind; I felt his silver heel Upon my ankle, -- then my shoes Would overflow with pearl. Until we met the solid town, No man he seemed to know; And bowing with a mighty look At me, the sea withdrew. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RAINY DAY by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER by ALEXANDER POPE HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON by PHILLIS WHEATLEY A RHYMED REVIEW; 'LAUGHING MUSE' (BY ARTHUR GUITERMAN) by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS IN THE GARDEN (WITH APOLOGIES TO ALFRED NOYES) by MARJORIE W. BRACHLOW |