Classic Poem

IN THE ODDITIES .

'Twas in the good ship Rover
I sail'd the world around,
And for three years and over,
I ne'er touch'd British ground;

At length in England landed,
I left the roaring main,
Found all relations stranded,
And went to sea again.

II

That time bound straight to Portugal,
Right fore and aft we bore;
But, when we'd made Cape Ortugal,
A gale blew off the shore:

She lay, so did it shock her,
A log upon the main,
Till, sav'd from Davy's locker,
We stood to sea again.

III

Next in a frigate sailing,
Upon a squally night,
Thunder and lightning hailing
The horrors of the fight,

My precious limb was lopp'd off,
I, when they'd eas'd my pain,
Thank'd God I was not popp'd off,
And went to sea again.

IV

Yet still am I enabled
To bring up in life's rear,
Although I'm quite disabled,
And lie in Greenwich tier;

The king, God bless his royalty,
Who sav'd me from the main,
I'll praise with love and loyalty,
But ne'er to sea again.