| Thomas R. Lounsbury, ed. (1838–1915). Yale Book of American Verse. 1912. |
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| Oliver Wendell Holmes. 1809–1894 |
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| 102. The Ballad of the Oysterman |
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| IT was a tall young oysterman lived by the river-side, | |
| His shop was just upon the bank, his boat was on the tide; | |
| The daughter of a fisherman, that was so straight and slim, | |
| Lived over on the other bank, right opposite to him. | |
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| It was the pensive oysterman that saw a lovely maid, | 5 |
| Upon a moonlight evening, a sitting in the shade; | |
| He saw her wave her handkerchief as much as if to say, | |
| "I 'm wide awake, young oysterman, and all the folks away." | |
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| Then up arose the oysterman, and to himself said he, | |
| "I guess I 'll leave the skiff at home, for fear that folks should see; | 10 |
| I read it in the story-book, that, for to kiss his dear, | |
| Leander swam the Hellespont,—and I will swim this here." | |
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| And he has leaped into the waves, and crossed the shining stream, | |
| And he has clambered up the bank, all in the moonlight gleam; | |
| O there were kisses sweet as dew, and words as soft as rain,— | 15 |
| But they have heard her father's step, and in he leaps again! | |
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| Out spoke the ancient fisherman,—"O what was that, my daughter?" | |
| "'T was nothing but a pebble, sir, I threw into the water." | |
| "And what is that, pray tell me, love, that paddles off so fast?" | |
| "It 's nothing but a porpoise, sir, that 's been a swimming past." | 20 |
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| Out spoke the ancient fisherman,—"Now bring me my harpoon! | |
| I 'll get into my fishing-boat, and fix the fellow soon." | |
| Down fell that pretty innocent, as falls a snow-white lamb, | |
| Her hair drooped round her pallid cheeks, like seaweed on a clam. | |
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| Alas for those two loving ones! she waked not from her swound, | 25 |
| And he was taken with the cramp, and in the waves was drowned; | |
| But Fate has metamorphosed them, in pity of their woe, | |
| And now they keep an oyster-shop for mermaids down below. | |
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