A shiny gull
On one grey day
Hanging on the air
Deep red beak
Matching legs
Eyes that stop and stare
Landing on my
Silver bonnet
Checking not my care
Peering in with
Dark eyes within
A fiery ring so fair
Black petty coat
Spotted bright
Dressed without a hair
Head splendid white
Greyback cloak
No need for clothes to wear
And all alone
In cold and rain
A gull without a pair
No smile or frown
No need be proud
“Let me taste your ware…
“I have no purse
“To buy from you
“Or from who knows where?
“I have no bag
“Or bed or home
“To store or make my lair!”
Oh silver gull
Such happy plight
I pray be of your share
Naught weighs you down
On coast or sea
But the wings you bear
In blasting chill
Withstanding ice
Tacking in the air
Riding a gale
Lasting the night
Standing the blinding glare
I think it so
In this grey day
That you are so rare
But you know not
But you know not
What kind of being
Could live in this nightmare
And like your call
By rippling shore
I hear from over there
Beckon me come
Beyond the sea
A place without a stair
"See, see! The sea, the sea!"
Flesh for tea
Or scraps, no fee
Or feast upon a flea
Wild and free
Kwarwhing out to me
Why not be
Bit more like she
The gull for all to see
The gull that calls "to sea!"
The gull that calls "to sea!"
