“HO, Sailor of the sea! <br />How’s my boy—my boy?” <br />“What’s your boy’s name, good wife, <br />And in what good ship sail'd he?” <br />“My boy John— He that went to sea— <br />What care I for the ship, sailor? <br />My boy's my boy to me. <br />“You come back from sea, <br />And not know my John? <br />I might as well have ask’d some landsman <br />Yonder down in the town. <br />There ’s not an ass in all the parish <br />But he knows my John. <br /> <br />“How’s my boy—my boy? <br />And unless you let me know <br />I’ll swear you are no sailor, <br />Blue jacket or no, <br />Brass buttons or no, sailor, <br />Anchor and crown or no! <br />Sure his ship was the ‘Jolly Briton’”— <br />“Speak low, woman, speak low!” <br />“And why should I speak low, sailor, <br />About my own boy John? <br />If I was loud as I am proud <br />I’d sing him over the town! <br />Why should I speak low, sailor?” <br />“That good ship went down.” <br /> <br />“How’s my boy—my boy? <br />What care I for the ship, sailor? <br />I was never aboard her. <br />Be she afloat or be she aground, <br />Sinking or swimming, I’ll be bound, <br />Her owners can afford her! <br />I say, how’s my John?” <br />“Every man on board went down, <br />Every man aboard her.” <br />“How’s my boy—my boy? <br />What care I for the men, sailor? <br />I’m not their mother— <br />How’s my boy—my boy? <br />Tell me of him and no other! <br />How ’s my boy—my boy?”<br /><br />Sydney Thompson Dobell<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/how-s-my-boy/
