Mother Carey (As told Me by the Bo'sun)

Mother Carey? She's the mother o' the witches

'N' all

them

sort o' rips;

She's a fine gell to look at, but the hitch is,

She's a sight too fond of ships;

She lives upon an iceberg to the norred,

'N' her man he's Davy Jones,

'N' she combs the weeds upon her forred

With pore drowned sailors' bones.

She's the mother o' the wrecks, 'n' the mother

Of all big winds as blows;

She's up to some deviltry or other

When it storms, or sleets, or snows;

The noise of the wind's her screamin',

'I'm arter a plump, young, fine,

Brass-buttoned, beefy-ribbed young seam'n

So as me 'n' my mate kin dine.'

She's a hungry old rip 'n' a cruel

For sailor-men like we,

She's give a many mariners the gruel

'N' a long sleep under sea;

She's the blood o' many a crew upon her

'N' the bones of many a wreck,

'N' she's barnacles a-growin' on her

'N' shark's teeth round her neck.

I ain't never had no schoolin'

Nor read no books like you,

But I knows 't ain't healthy to be foolin'

With that there gristly two;

You're young, you thinks, 'n' you're lairy,

But if you're to make old bones,

Steer clear, I says, o' Mother Carey,

'N' that there Davy Jones.

From SALT-WATER POEMS AND BALLADS, by John Masefield, published by The MacMillan Company, New York, ©1913, pp. 46-47.Mother Carey was not to be confused with a mermaid. Take heed and take care! "Rip" a dissolute personThe header graphic is from an illustration for Coleridge's RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER, Part 7, Art Union 1863; plus a photo of Music Hall performer Hayden Coffin in his role in "The Geisha," as a sentimental naval officer, © 1896.Charley Noble