Page:Salt-water poems and ballads by Masefield, John, 1878-1967 Published 1916.djvu/23

 THE YARN OF THE 'LOCH ACHRAY'

The 'Loch Achray' was a clipper tall

With seven-and-twenty hands in all.

Twenty to hand and reef and haul,

A skipper to sail and mates to bawl

'Tally on to the tackle-fall,

Heave now 'n' start her, heave 'n' pawl!'

Hear the yarn of a sailor.

An old yarn learned at sea.

Her crew were shipped and they said 'Farewell,

So-long, my Tottie, my lovely gell ;

We sail to-day if we fetch to hell.

It's time we tackled the wheel a spell.'

Hear the yarn of a sailor.

An old yarn learned at sea.

The dockside loafers talked on the quay

The day that she towed down to sea :


 * Lord, what a handsome ship she be !

Cheer her, sonny boys, three times three!'

And the dockside loafers gave her a shout

As the red-funnelled tug-boat towed her out ;

They gave her a cheer as the custom is.

And the crew yelled 'Take our loves to Liz —