Sisters down at Seaford
Light me as with halos;
How they lift my freeboard,
Float me o'er the shallows!
" You are not a dead man
Doomed to grave of myrtle!
Get you out of bed, man;
We will catch you turtle!

" Let us row the river,
Let us sail and cruise some! "
Arrows in me quiver.
Sped from swelling bosom:
" Sisters, how your missiles
From your bows do hurtle!
Tingled in my gristles,
I must turn and turtle! "

Daisy, game a'wishing,
Faced me, panting, rowing:
In the stern, a'fishing,
Pretty feet a'showing,
With her hair a'flowing,
Likewise loose her kirtle,
Norah, bending, bowing,
Strove to catch a turtle.

" Sisters, I'm besought by
Your live bait and pledges;
Terrapin is caught by
Your coy seine or dredges;
Is it crab or spider
From the ooze so fertile? "
" Goose! it is a slider,
Otherwise a turtle! "

Squealing as it glides,
Dropping of their hair a pin,
Neath both sisters slides
That mouse-chasing terrapin;
" It is up my shoe! "
" It hides in my kirtle! "
" Sisters, spry are you,
Dodging of a turtle. "

So we have a rout,
Turtle, sherry, cider;
But next day the gout
Beds me, a back slider;
My big toe, a lump,
Sisters cool in myrtle,
But not more they jump
Running from the turtle!