Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PAIN IN A PLEASURE BOAT by THOMAS HOOD

Poet Analysis

First Line: SHOVE OFF THERE! SHIP THE RUDDER, BILL - CAST OFF! SHE'S UNDER WAY!
Last Line: WELL, HEAVEN BE PRAISED! BUT I'LL NOT GO A-SAILING ANY MORE!
Subject(s): SAILING & SAILORS; SEAMEN; SAILS;
@3Boatman@1—Shove off there!—ship the rudder, Bill—cast off!
she's under way!
@3Mrs. F.@1—She's under what?—I hope she's not! good gracious, what a

spray!
@3Boatman@1—Run out the jib, and rig the boom! keep clear of those two
brigs!
@3Mrs. F.@1—I hope they don't intend some joke by running of their rigs!
@3Boatman@1—Bill, shift them bags of ballast aft—she's rather out of
trim!
@3Mrs. F.@1—Great bags of stone! they're pretty things to help a boat to
swim!
@3Boatman@1—The wind is fresh—if she don't scud, it's not the breeze's

fault!
@3Mrs. F.@1—Wind fresh, indeed! I never felt the air so full of salt!
@3Boatman@1—That schooner, Bill, harn't left the roads, with oranges, and
nuts!
@3Mrs. F.@1—If seas have roads, they're very rough—I never felt such
ruts!
@3Boatman@1—It's neap, ye see, she's heavy lade, and couldn't pass the bar.

@3Mrs. F.@1—The bar! what, roads with turnpikes too? I wonder where they
are!
@3Boatman@1—Ho! Brig ahoy! hard up! hard up! that lubber cannot steer!
@3Mrs. F.@1—Yes, yes—hard up upon a rock! I know some danger's near!
Lord, there's a wave! it's coming in! and roaring like a bull!
@3Boatman@1—Nothing, Ma'am, but a little slop! go large, Bill! keep her
full!
@3Mrs. F.@1—What, keep her full! what daring work! when full, she must go
down!
@3Boatman@1—Why, Bill, it lulls! ease off a bit—it's coming off the
town!
Steady your helm! we'll clear the Pint! lay right for yonder pink!
@3Mrs. F.@1—Be steady—well, I hope they can! but they've got a pint of

drink!
@3Boatman@1—Bill, give that sheet another haul—she'll fetch it up this

reach.
@3Mrs. F.@1—I'm getting rather pale, I know, and they see it by that
speech!
I wonder what it is, now, but—I never felt so queer!
@3Boatman@1—Bill, mind your luff—why, Bill, I say, she's
yawing—keep her near!
@3Mrs. F.@1—Keep near! we're going further off; the land's behind our
backs.
@3Boatman@1—Be easy, Ma'am, it's all correct, that's only 'cause we tacks;
We shall have to beat about a bit—Bill, keep her out to sea.
@3Mrs. F.@1—Beat who about? keep who at sea?—how black they look at
me!
@3Boatman@1—It's veering round—I knew it would! off with her head!
stand by!
@3Mrs. F.@1—Off with her head! whose? where? what with? an axe I seem to
spy!
@3Boatman@1—She can't keep her own, you see; we shall have to pull her in!
@3Mrs. F.@1—They'll drown me, and take all I have! my life's not worth a
pin!
@3Boatman@1—Look out, you know, be ready, Bill—just when she takes the

sand!
@3Mrs. F.@1—The sand—O Lord! to stop my mouth! how everything is
planned!
@3Boatman@1—The handspike, Bill—quick, bear a hand! now, Ma'am, just
step ashore!
@3Mrs. F.@1—What! aint I going to be killed—and weltered in my gore?
Well, Heaven be praised! but I'll not go a-sailing any more!



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