The Ship of Rio-Walter de la Mare

THE SHIP OF RIO

There was a ship of Rio

Sailed out into the blue,

And nine-and-ninety monkeys

Were all her jovial crew.

From bos'un to the cabin-boy,

From quarter to caboose,

There weren't a stitch of calico

To breech 'em-tight or loose;

From spar to deck, from deck to keel,

From barnacle to shroud,

There weren't onw pair of reach-me-downs

To all that jabbering crowd.

But wasn't it a gladsome sight,

When roared the deep-sea gales,

To see them reef her fore and aft,

A-swinging by their tails!

Oh, wasn't it a gladsome sight,

When glassy calm did come,

To see them squatting tailor-wise

Around a keg of rum!

Oh, wasn't it a gladsome sight,

When in she sailed to land,

To see them all a-scampering skip

For nuts across the sand!


WALTER DE LA MARE


Summary: 'The Ship of Rio' by Walter de la Mare is a poem about a ship that sailed from Rio with a crew of 99 monkeys. The moneys from the bos'un to the cabin-boy, were dressed in nothing but their natural fur. Despite this, they managed to work the ship and weather both storms and clam water with ease. When they arrived at their destination, they eagerly scampered off the ship in search of nuts. The poem portrays the monkeys as joyful and carefree, enjoying their adventures on the high seas.

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