Barnaby Botts

By Ethel Jacobson

Barnaby Botts

Ran off to sea

When he was only

Half past three.

He nevermore

Set foot on shore,

Till he was nearly

Half past four.

Then all he could say

Was “Ahoy!” and “Avast!”

And “Shiver me tops’l

And mizzenmast!”

And “Belay below—

It’s agoin’ to blow!”

And “Batten the hatches—

Yo-ho-ho!”

He said we all

Talked Greek on shore.

So when Barnaby Botts

Was half past four,

He went to sea

And said that we

Would never again

See Barnaby.

Illustrated by Julie F. Young