I started early, took my dog,
And visited the sea;
The mermaids in the
Came out to look at me.
And frigates in the upper
Extended hempen hands,
Presuming me to be a
Aground, upon the sands.
But no man moved me till the
Went past my simple shoe,
And past my apron and my belt,
And past my bodice too,
And made as he would eat me
As wholly as a
Upon a dandelion's sleeve —And then I started too.
And he — he followed close behind;
I felt his silver
Upon my ankle, — then my
Would overflow with pearl.
Until we met the solid town,
No man he seemed to know;
And bowing with a mighty
At me, the sea withdrew.