A "NEF" JEWEL
Tell me, little golden ship,
Upon what fantastic trip
Have you sailed o'er seas unknown?
Slender shallop of the moon
Might be wrecked by such fierce gales
As you've met with those wee sails
Each of purply tinted shell
And your hull built strong and well
Gold and coral, lapis blue,
Anchor one huge pearl that's too
Heavy for a maid to wear
As a pendant at her ear.
In what tiny harbor far
On the coast line of a star
By what city small and bright
With its wall of chrysolite
And its spires all jewel wrought
Have you lain—what cargo brought
From your strange adventurings—
All the wealth of elfin kings,
Or such gold as long ago
Fair-haired Jason sought. And oh,
Pretty pirate, did you dare
Battle with the fleets of air,
Spoil them of their freight, and then
Tempt the vast cloud seas again,
Going boldly, all sails set?
Some strange perfume haunts you yet,
Sweet as though you had for pelf
The Rose-Peri's lovely self—
Scarcely sweeter did you rest
On Dame Venus' foam-pale breast
And ofttimes her winged son
Leant his golden head thereon.
Upon what fantastic trip
Have you sailed o'er seas unknown?
Slender shallop of the moon
Might be wrecked by such fierce gales
As you've met with those wee sails
Each of purply tinted shell
And your hull built strong and well
Gold and coral, lapis blue,
Anchor one huge pearl that's too
Heavy for a maid to wear
As a pendant at her ear.
In what tiny harbor far
On the coast line of a star
By what city small and bright
With its wall of chrysolite
And its spires all jewel wrought
Have you lain—what cargo brought
From your strange adventurings—
All the wealth of elfin kings,
Or such gold as long ago
Fair-haired Jason sought. And oh,
Pretty pirate, did you dare
Battle with the fleets of air,
Spoil them of their freight, and then
Tempt the vast cloud seas again,
Going boldly, all sails set?
Some strange perfume haunts you yet,
Sweet as though you had for pelf
The Rose-Peri's lovely self—
Scarcely sweeter did you rest
On Dame Venus' foam-pale breast
And ofttimes her winged son
Leant his golden head thereon.