Classic Poem

Good people give attention who now around me stand,
While I unfold a circumstance that does to love belong,
Concerning of a pretty maid who ventured, we are told,
All across the briny ocean as a female sailor bold.

Her name was Ann Jane Thornton, as presently you will hear,
And, as we are informed, she was born in Gloucestershire;
Her father lived in Ireland, respected well, we are told,
But never thought his daughter was a female sailor bold.

She was courted by a captain when scarce sixteen years of age,
And to be bound in wedlock this couple did engage;
But the captain had to leave this land, as I will now unfold,
Then she ventured o'er the ocean like a female sailor bold.

She dressed herself in sailor's clothes and, overcome with joy,
She with a captain did engage to serve as cabin boy;
And when New York in America this fair maid did behold,

She run to seek her lover true, did this female sailor bold.
She to her true love's father, she hastened there with speed,
And inquired for employment but — dreadful news indeed —
Her lover had sometime been dead, this pretty maid was told;
Then in agony and sorrow wept the female sailor bold.

Some thousands of miles she was from home, from parents far away;
She travelled seventy miles through woods in North America,
Bereft of friends and kindred, no parents to behold,
" My true love's gone," in anguish cried the female sailor bold.

With pitch and tar her hands were hard, though once like velvet soft;
She weighed the anchor, heaved the lead and boldly went aloft;
Just one and thirty months she braved the tempest, we are told,
And always done her duty, did the female sailor bold.

In the month of February, eighteen hundred and thirty-five,
She to the port of London in the Sarah did arrive.
Her secret was then discovered and the secret did unfold,
And the captain gazed with wonder on the female sailor bold.

This female was examined of course by the Lord Mayor,
And in all the public papers the reasons did appear;
Why she left her father, her native land she sold,
To cross the briny ocean as a female sailor bold.

It was to seek her lover she sailed across the main;
Through love she did encounter storm, tempest, wind and rain.
It was love caused all her troubles and hardships, we are told:
May she rest at home contented now, the female sailor bold.