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Edward Lear - The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo
Work rating: Medium

I 

On the Coast of Coromandel
Where the early pumpkins blow,
In the middle of the woods
  Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
Two old chairs, and half a candle,—
One old jug without a handle,—
    These were all his worldly goods:
    In the middle of the woods,
    These were all the worldly goods,
  Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,
  Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
 
II 

Once, among the Bong-trees walking
  Where the early pumpkins blow,
    To a little heap of stones
  Came the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
There he heard a Lady talking,
To some milk-white Hens of Dorking,—
    ``Tis the lady Jingly Jones!
    `On that little heap of stones
    `Sits the Lady Jingly Jones!`
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
 
III 

`Lady Jingly! Lady Jingly!
  `Sitting where the pumpkins blow,
    `Will you come and be my wife?`
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
`I am tired of living singly,—
`On this coast so wild and shingly,—
    `I`m a-weary of my life:
    `If you`ll come and be my wife,
    `Quite serene would be my life!`—
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
 
IV 

`On this Coast of Coromandel,
  `Shrimps and watercresses grow,
    `Prawns are plentiful and cheap,`
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
`You shall have my chairs and candle,
`And my jug without a handle!—
    `Gaze upon the rolling deep
    (`Fish is plentiful and cheap)
    `As the sea, my love is deep!`
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
 
V 

Lady Jingly answered sadly,
  And her tears began to flow,—
    `Your proposal comes too late,
  `Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!
`I would be your wife most gladly!`
(Here she twirled her fingers madly,)
    `But in England I`ve a mate!
    `Yes! you`ve asked me far too late,
    `For in England I`ve a mate,
  `Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!
  `Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!`
 
VI 

`Mr. Jones — (his name is Handel,—
  `Handel Jones, Esquire, & Co.)
    `Dorking fowls delights to send,
  `Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!
`Keep, oh! keep your chairs and candle,
`And your jug without a handle,—
    `I can merely be your friend!
    `— Should my Jones more Dorkings send,
    `I will give you three, my friend!
  `Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!
  `Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!`
 
VII 

`Though you`ve such a tiny body,
  `And your head so large doth grow,—
    `Though your hat may blow away,
  `Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!
`Though you`re such a Hoddy Doddy—
`Yet a wish that I could modi-
    `fy the words I needs must say!
    `Will you please to go away?
    `That is all I have to say—
  `Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!
  `Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!`.
 
VIII 

Down the slippery slopes of Myrtle,
  Where the early pumpkins blow,
    To the calm and silent sea
  Fled the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
There, beyond the Bay of Gurtle,
Lay a large and lively Turtle,—
    `You`re the Cove,` he said, `for me
    `On your back beyond the sea,
    `Turtle, you shall carry me!`
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,
  Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

IX 

Through the silent-roaring ocean
  Did the Turtle swiftly go;
    Holding fast upon his shell
  Rode the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
With a sad primæval motion
Towards the sunset isles of Boshen
    Still the Turtle bore him well.
    Holding fast upon his shell,
    `Lady Jingly Jones, farewell!`
  Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,
  Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
 
X 

From the Coast of Coromandel,
  Did that Lady never go;
    On that heap of stones she mourns
  For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
On that Coast of Coromandel,
In his jug without a handle
    Still she weeps, and daily moans;
    On that little hep of stones
    To her Dorking Hens she moans,
  For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,
  For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.
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