"Ho, sailor of the sea!
How's my boy,--my boy?"
"What's your boy's name, good wife,
And in what ship sailed he?"
"My boy John,--
He that went to sea,--
What care I for the ship, sailor?
My boy's my boy to me.
"You come back from sea,
And not know my John?
I might as well have asked some landsman,
Yonder down in the town.
There's not an ass in all the parish
But knows my John.
"How's my boy,--my boy?
And unless you let me know,
I'll swear you are no sailor,
Blue jacket or no,--
Brass buttons or no, sailor,
Anchor and crown or no,--
Sure his ship was the 'Jolly Briton'"--
"Speak low, woman, speak low!"
"And why should I speak low, sailor,
About my own boy John?
If I was loud as I am proud
I'd sing him over the town!
Why should I speak low, sailor?"
"That good ship went down."
"How's my boy,--my boy?
What care I for the ship, sailor?
I was never aboard her.
Be she afloat or be she aground,
Sinking or swimming, I'll be bound
Her owners can afford her!
I say, how's my John?"
"Every man on board went down,
Every man aboard her."
"How's my boy,--my boy?
What care I for the men, sailor?
I'm not their mother,--
How's my boy,--my boy?
Tell me of him and no other!
How's my boy,--my boy?"
_Sydney Dobell._
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