Adown the beach at Rockaway,
Three bathers one hot summer day
Retired to while the hours away.
Three bathers one hot summer day
Retired to while the hours away.
Their minds were free, their hearts were light.
The August sun was fierce and bright,
They dived and swam from morn till night.
The August sun was fierce and bright,
They dived and swam from morn till night.
THE BAD BOY
This little fellow misbehaved,
And gave the people shocks,
Until at last they were compelled
To put him in the stocks.
And gave the people shocks,
Until at last they were compelled
To put him in the stocks.
BROTHERLY CONSOLATION
A Thingamy-bob
Got out of a job,
And went to consult with his brother:
Said his brother to him,
"Your chances are slim
Unless you go hunt up another."
Got out of a job,
And went to consult with his brother:
Said his brother to him,
"Your chances are slim
Unless you go hunt up another."
THE BUTTERFLY MAN
A very gay fellow was he—
As gay as a mortal could be.
And he fluttered about
Till at last he turned out
A Butterfly man, as you see.
As gay as a mortal could be.
And he fluttered about
Till at last he turned out
A Butterfly man, as you see.
THE TRANSFERRED SMILE
Two little snails did smile and smile,
The summer day beguiling.
Two birds espied them from afar,
And now the birds are smiling.
The summer day beguiling.
Two birds espied them from afar,
And now the birds are smiling.
THE ROYAL GROTTO
A king and a queen in a grotto
Are kissing as kings and queens ought to
If you'll look you will find
Two attendants behind,—
"To watch and to guard," is their motto.
Are kissing as kings and queens ought to
If you'll look you will find
Two attendants behind,—
"To watch and to guard," is their motto.
THE MODEST MISS KANGAROO
Two kangaroos upon a pole
Were talking softly to each other.
One whispered: "Dear, upon the whole,
I think you'd better ask my mother."
Were talking softly to each other.
One whispered: "Dear, upon the whole,
I think you'd better ask my mother."
THE GARGOYLE
A gargoyle here you see.
I've heard it said that he
Was found in France
By strangest chance—
But what is that to me?
I've heard it said that he
Was found in France
By strangest chance—
But what is that to me?
I only know that we
Discovered him to be
An imp of ink;
And so I think
He's ours, as you'll agree.
Discovered him to be
An imp of ink;
And so I think
He's ours, as you'll agree.
THE ELF PARTY
These four little two-horned elves
Are seated on coraline shelves.
The spot where they be
Is down under the sea,
And they've got the whole reef to themselves.
Are seated on coraline shelves.
The spot where they be
Is down under the sea,
And they've got the whole reef to themselves.
UNPLEASANT COMPANIONS
Here are two Wriggles from Wriggelum-town—
Their legs are sky-blue and their bodies are brown;
Their tails are a wonderful changeable hue;
I don't care to have them for playmates, do you?
Their legs are sky-blue and their bodies are brown;
Their tails are a wonderful changeable hue;
I don't care to have them for playmates, do you?
THE GRENADIER
A soldierly fellow is he,
With swords as erect as can be.
His attendants are queer,
And so small, they appear
To barely reach up to his knee.
With swords as erect as can be.
His attendants are queer,
And so small, they appear
To barely reach up to his knee.
KINGS' JESTERS
Jesters from the courts of kings
Tell their secret whisperings.
Just a fleeting moment, then
They must hurry back again.
Ever making monarchs gay,
Happy-hearted jesters they.
Tell their secret whisperings.
Just a fleeting moment, then
They must hurry back again.
Ever making monarchs gay,
Happy-hearted jesters they.
THE FUNNY OCTOPUS
A jolly old octopus lived in the sea,
With a hey-diddle hi-diddle dum;
And the funniest sort of a fellow was he,
This jolly old octopus under the sea,
With a mouth where the top of his head ought to be,
To swallow the divers that come—
This jolly old octopus under the sea,
With a hey-diddle hi-diddle dum.
With a hey-diddle hi-diddle dum;
And the funniest sort of a fellow was he,
This jolly old octopus under the sea,
With a mouth where the top of his head ought to be,
To swallow the divers that come—
This jolly old octopus under the sea,
With a hey-diddle hi-diddle dum.
THE NYMPHS AND THE OSTRICHES
Two pious little nymphs are kneeling here—
Two double-headed ostriches above them;
And on their backs two gallant knights appear—
Perhaps they'll see the little nymphs and love them.
Two double-headed ostriches above them;
And on their backs two gallant knights appear—
Perhaps they'll see the little nymphs and love them.
A CONVENIENCE
The shadow-rack stands in the Shadow-man's hall;
It holds shadow-canes and umbrellas, and all
The various things that the Gobolinks use
When they go for a walk to get rid of the blues.
It holds shadow-canes and umbrellas, and all
The various things that the Gobolinks use
When they go for a walk to get rid of the blues.
ENTOMOLOGY
These are some insects that dwell in the grass
And nip at the gobolinks' toes as they pass.
Their legs are uneven, their bodies are queer.
Their habits are very uncertain, I fear.
And nip at the gobolinks' toes as they pass.
Their legs are uneven, their bodies are queer.
Their habits are very uncertain, I fear.
FOX AND GEESE
Two foxes stole two geese one night,
When the air was warm and the moon was bright:
One started west—one started east—
Their hearts intent on a glorious feast.
But alas! for the things that we hope to do!
A funny old man, with pistols two,
Came running out, where the moon was bright,
And they dropped their plunder and took to flight.
When the air was warm and the moon was bright:
One started west—one started east—
Their hearts intent on a glorious feast.
But alas! for the things that we hope to do!
A funny old man, with pistols two,
Came running out, where the moon was bright,
And they dropped their plunder and took to flight.
THE TAIL OF TADDY POLE
There was a little Polliwog—
His name was Taddy Pole.
He lived within a little bog,
Beside a crawfish hole.
His name was Taddy Pole.
He lived within a little bog,
Beside a crawfish hole.
And all the day did Taddy play
Around a sunken log,
Until he lost his tail one day,
And then he was a frog.
Around a sunken log,
Until he lost his tail one day,
And then he was a frog.
THE ARABESQUE
Oh, here are two doves in a bower,
Or a wonderful arabesque flower;
Or a nobby design
For a sweet valentine;
Or, reversed, 't is a beast with a glower.
Or a wonderful arabesque flower;
Or a nobby design
For a sweet valentine;
Or, reversed, 't is a beast with a glower.
THE GOBOLINKS' MIRROR
Tins is the mirror the gobolinks use
To do up their tresses in style if they choose.
To do up their tresses,
And look at their dresses,
And maybe to button their shoes.
To do up their tresses in style if they choose.
To do up their tresses,
And look at their dresses,
And maybe to button their shoes.
WIND MAIDENS
Here are two maids of the wind
Whose dresses are strangely designed.
They appear to be made
Without buttons or braid,
And fastened together behind.
Whose dresses are strangely designed.
They appear to be made
Without buttons or braid,
And fastened together behind.
THE PUGILISTS
The pugilistic craze is such
That e'en the gobolinks absorb it.
These pictures don't amount to much,
But they were made for Fitz and Corbett.
That e'en the gobolinks absorb it.
These pictures don't amount to much,
But they were made for Fitz and Corbett.
WHAT THEY LEFT
Oh, here's to the poet that sings
The song of the gobolink kings
Who left silhouettes
With their kindest regrets,
And other quite wonderful things.
The song of the gobolink kings
Who left silhouettes
With their kindest regrets,
And other quite wonderful things.
GOBOLINK HORSES
These are the steeds that the gobolinks use;
They love them and pet them and never abuse.
Their backs are not pleasant to sit on, they say,
So they ride them erect in the hippodrome way.
They love them and pet them and never abuse.
Their backs are not pleasant to sit on, they say,
So they ride them erect in the hippodrome way.
MISS F.M. DE LISLE
This is a damsel who dresses in style.
Her name is Miss Fannie Magruder De Lisle.
She loves to look pretty—as most of us do—
That's why she's so stylish, and dignified, too.
Her name is Miss Fannie Magruder De Lisle.
She loves to look pretty—as most of us do—
That's why she's so stylish, and dignified, too.
FANNIE'S CURLING-TONGS
These are the irons with which Fannie crimps
Her fair auburn tresses whenever she primps.
She curls and arranges her locks with great care,
Because she is proud of her radiant hair.
Her fair auburn tresses whenever she primps.
She curls and arranges her locks with great care,
Because she is proud of her radiant hair.
THE BEARS AND THE HARLEQUINS.
Gay harlequins dancing—beribboned are they
And carry two poles in the air;
That rest on their heads in a curious way,
And top of each pole is a bear,
I declare,
A wonderful, long-tailed bear.
And carry two poles in the air;
That rest on their heads in a curious way,
And top of each pole is a bear,
I declare,
A wonderful, long-tailed bear.
THE FAITHFUL NOTES
An old guitar once broke its strings,
And all the musical notes took wings;
They harried away to lands afar.
But two of them stayed with the old guitar.
And all the musical notes took wings;
They harried away to lands afar.
But two of them stayed with the old guitar.
THE POLITE COLLY-WOBBLES
Very polite colly-wobbles are these—
They hang by their feet to the branches of trees,
While a hand they extend
To a wobbledy friend,
And often they say, "If you please."
They hang by their feet to the branches of trees,
While a hand they extend
To a wobbledy friend,
And often they say, "If you please."
THE BRAVE WARRIORS
Two Indian warriors got frightened one day,
And fled from the midst of alarms;
And later they met in a curious way,
Each bearing a goat in his arms.
And fled from the midst of alarms;
And later they met in a curious way,
Each bearing a goat in his arms.
STEEPLE MEN
Two funny old three-legged gnomes
Came out of their shadowy domes:
They made their salute
With a hand and a foot,
And then hurried back to their homes.
Came out of their shadowy domes:
They made their salute
With a hand and a foot,
And then hurried back to their homes.
THE SHEET-AND-PILLOW PARTY
A pillow-case party the Gobolinks gave,
And it proved a right merry carouse:
But I'm sure you'd have laughed at their attitudes grave
As they made their ridiculous bows.
And it proved a right merry carouse:
But I'm sure you'd have laughed at their attitudes grave
As they made their ridiculous bows.
MOSS-BACKS
Here are two scraggle-de-racks
With moss on their beautiful backs—
The sort that you'll find
On such of mankind
As fail to keep up with the facts.
With moss on their beautiful backs—
The sort that you'll find
On such of mankind
As fail to keep up with the facts.
A WHAT-IS-IT
There was an old man of high feather,
Who said, "I can't really tell whether
I'm a man or a mouse,
Or the roof of a house,
So much may depend on the weather."
Who said, "I can't really tell whether
I'm a man or a mouse,
Or the roof of a house,
So much may depend on the weather."
THE MERRY WATER-WEEDLES
Within the caverns of the sea
Two Water-weedles stay.
Their hearts are happy as can be,
Within the caverns of the sea
They sing and frolic in their glee
Throughout the livelong day.
Within the caverns of the sea
Two water-weedles stay.
Two Water-weedles stay.
Their hearts are happy as can be,
Within the caverns of the sea
They sing and frolic in their glee
Throughout the livelong day.
Within the caverns of the sea
Two water-weedles stay.
A NARROW ESCAPE
Two piggies went to market
All on a market day,
But when the butcher caught them
They wished they'd stayed away.
All on a market day,
But when the butcher caught them
They wished they'd stayed away.
"Oh, Piggy-wiggy, fare you well,
Our ribs will soon be spare."
And they quickly ran away,
And now they don't go there.
Our ribs will soon be spare."
And they quickly ran away,
And now they don't go there.
THE CAPTIVES
Pray tell us, if you please,
What sort of things are these:
A shadow-ghost has captured them,
And holds them fast with ease.
What sort of things are these:
A shadow-ghost has captured them,
And holds them fast with ease.
THE VICIOUS GOLLY-POPS
Here are two Golly-pops
Looking for lollypops
Such as grow under the sea.
Their ways are ambitious,
Their faces are vicious.
I'm glad they're not looking for me.
Looking for lollypops
Such as grow under the sea.
Their ways are ambitious,
Their faces are vicious.
I'm glad they're not looking for me.
THE DIVERS
Two divers, one sweet summer day,
Went down into the ocean,
They saw the fishes all at play,
The sea-flowers all in motion.
Went down into the ocean,
They saw the fishes all at play,
The sea-flowers all in motion.
They danced a jig and sang a song,
And gathered water-roses,
When, lo, two lobsters came along,
And bit them on their toeses.
And gathered water-roses,
When, lo, two lobsters came along,
And bit them on their toeses.
THE SHADOW-HARP
This is the harp of which nobody sings—
Where is the keyboard and where are the strings?
The strings are undone and the keys thrown away,
For this is the harp on which shadow-folk play.
Where is the keyboard and where are the strings?
The strings are undone and the keys thrown away,
For this is the harp on which shadow-folk play.
A GLAD RETURN
Two little maids just home from school
Have been so long asunder—
They first embrace, then face to face
They stand and look and wonder.
Have been so long asunder—
They first embrace, then face to face
They stand and look and wonder.
GROTESQUES
Very funny creatures these—
Can't tell what they are.
Men or birds or beasts or bees—
Very funny creatures these—
Turn them either way you please—
View them near or far.
Very funny creatures these—
Can't tell what they are.
Can't tell what they are.
Men or birds or beasts or bees—
Very funny creatures these—
Turn them either way you please—
View them near or far.
Very funny creatures these—
Can't tell what they are.
SHADOW-CRESTS
These are designs of heraldry
That shadow-folk affect,
Though some are no less shadowy
Than those that men select.
That shadow-folk affect,
Though some are no less shadowy
Than those that men select.
For many men have bought a crest
Although they come quite dear,
And such of those as can't invest
May find an emblem here.
Although they come quite dear,
And such of those as can't invest
May find an emblem here.
A FRONTIER COAT-OF-ARMS
This is a crest
That came out of the West,
For the family was founded
Where hunters abounded,
So the head of a deer
And two hunters appear.
That came out of the West,
For the family was founded
Where hunters abounded,
So the head of a deer
And two hunters appear.
THE FANCIFUL ELK
This is the head of an elk, as you see.
His horns are as tall as a sycamore tree.
They are strangely designed,
And I think you will find
He has horns where his ears ought to be.
His horns are as tall as a sycamore tree.
They are strangely designed,
And I think you will find
He has horns where his ears ought to be.
T' OTHER AND WHICH
Ink-bottle imps turn up their noses
When they meet each other:
And the reason, I suppose, is—
Can't tell which from t' other.
When they meet each other:
And the reason, I suppose, is—
Can't tell which from t' other.
CATHODES
And here we have a lot of things
Defying nomenclature.
The bones of Gobolinks are they,
Revealing in the cathode ray
Their anatomic nature.
Defying nomenclature.
The bones of Gobolinks are they,
Revealing in the cathode ray
Their anatomic nature.
IN THE X-RAY
Cathode fairy,
Light and airy,
Sunny weather,
Two together,
Caring nothing why or whether
Flesh or blood or bone or feather
Shows on such a summer day
'Neath the Cathode's magic ray.
Light and airy,
Sunny weather,
Two together,
Caring nothing why or whether
Flesh or blood or bone or feather
Shows on such a summer day
'Neath the Cathode's magic ray.
A BEETLEVILLE DANCE
The beetles gave a party,
And all their friends were there.
The welcome was so hearty
To join the beetles' party,
The Joodle and the Jarty
Came flying through the air.
Oh, the beetles gave a party,
And all their friends were there.
And all their friends were there.
The welcome was so hearty
To join the beetles' party,
The Joodle and the Jarty
Came flying through the air.
Oh, the beetles gave a party,
And all their friends were there.
QUEEN BEETLE
A Lady queen of Beetle-land—
Attendants small on either hand.
They walk or fly with equal skill—
They fetch and carry at her will.
I'm glad, I'm sure, that we have seen
The beetles and their lady queen.
Attendants small on either hand.
They walk or fly with equal skill—
They fetch and carry at her will.
I'm glad, I'm sure, that we have seen
The beetles and their lady queen.
BEETLES
This is a beetle that came from Metuchen—
The plan of his house is likewise his escutcheon.
The plan of his house is likewise his escutcheon.
KING BEETLE
Oh, a marvelous mind has the old beetle king,
And he rules in a marvelous way;
For he rolls up his eyes and commences to sing
When his subjects go glittering by on the wing;
And 'tis said that his notes have a powerful ring
When he chants at the breaking of day—
They say—
His anthem at breaking of day.
And he rules in a marvelous way;
For he rolls up his eyes and commences to sing
When his subjects go glittering by on the wing;
And 'tis said that his notes have a powerful ring
When he chants at the breaking of day—
They say—
His anthem at breaking of day.
OUR PET
The head of a Gobolink tiger—
With smellers arranged as you see
He used to reside on the Niger;
But now he is living with me.
With smellers arranged as you see
He used to reside on the Niger;
But now he is living with me.
GOOD BREEDING
Most Shadow-people are polite.
And bow whene'er they meet;
For us to do the same is right,
At home or in the street.
And bow whene'er they meet;
For us to do the same is right,
At home or in the street.
THE WASHERWOMEN
There were some old ladies of Dundee
Who did all their washing on Mondee.
Then they shook out their clothes
Till they dried, I suppose,
To have them all ready for Sundee.
Who did all their washing on Mondee.
Then they shook out their clothes
Till they dried, I suppose,
To have them all ready for Sundee.
A MARINE BALL
Two lobsters and two sea-horses
One day came out of the wet;
They heard a mermaid sing her song,
And danced a minuet.
One day came out of the wet;
They heard a mermaid sing her song,
And danced a minuet.
THE QUEER MOLLUSKS
Ridiculous mollusks are we,
And dwell in the depths of the sea.
Our bodies are jelly,
And we haven't a belly
In the place where our bellies should be.
And dwell in the depths of the sea.
Our bodies are jelly,
And we haven't a belly
In the place where our bellies should be.
SEAWEEDS
SEA-TULIP[A]
Within the garden of the sea
Are gems of beauty rare—
The Star-wort and Anemone
And Ocean pinks are there.
Are gems of beauty rare—
The Star-wort and Anemone
And Ocean pinks are there.
Oh, these are dainty things indeed
The Mermaids keep in store;
But fairer still, to me, the weed
That decks the ocean's floor.
The Mermaids keep in store;
But fairer still, to me, the weed
That decks the ocean's floor.
Whatever flower of earth we win,
Howe'er so fair it be,
'T will not surpass those weeds within
The garden of the sea.
Howe'er so fair it be,
'T will not surpass those weeds within
The garden of the sea.
[A] Names given are in use only in Gobolink-land.