Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE SILVER PENNY by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE

Poet Analysis

First Line: SAILORMAN, I'LL GIVE TO YOU
Last Line: A BRIGHT SILVER PENNY.

'Sailorman, I'll give to you
My bright silver penny,
If out to sea you'll sail me
And my dear sister Jenny.'

'Get in, young sir, I'll sail ye
And your dear sister Jenny,
But pay she shall her golden locks
Instead of your penny.'

They sail away, they sail away,
O fierce the winds blew!
The foam flew in clouds
And dark the night grew!

And all the green sea-water
Climbed steep into the boat;
Back to the shore again
Sail they will not.

Drowned is the sailorman,
Drowned is sweet Jenny,
And drowned in the deep sea
A bright silver penny.



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