There was once an old sailor my grandfather knew Who had so many things which he wanted to do That, whenever he thought it was time to begin, He couldn’t because of the state he was in. He was shipwrecked, and lived on an island for weeks,
And he wanted a hat, and he wanted some breeks; And he wanted some nets, or a line and some hooks For turtles and things which you read of in books.
And, thinking of this, he remembered a thing Which he wanted (for water) and that was a spring; And he thought that to talk to he’d look for, and keep (If he found it) a goat, or some chickens and sheep.
Then, because of the weather, he wanted a hut With a door (to come in by) which opened and shut (With a jerk, which was useful if snakes were about), And a very strong lock to keep savages out.
He began on the fish-hooks, and when he’d begun He decided he couldn’t because of the sun. So he knew what he ought to begin with, and that Was to find, or to make, a large sun-stopping hat. He was making the hat with some leaves from a tree, When he thought, “I’m as hot as a body can be, And I’ve nothing to take for my terrible thirst; So I’ll look for a spring, and I’ll look for it first .” Then he thought as he started, “Oh, dear and oh, dear!
