Tom and Polly/Greenwich moorings

GREENWICH MOORINGS.

WITH ti here green from childhood's dock
buoy'd up by youthful notions,
My roving fancy dar'd to mock
the raging storms of ocean;
Thus braving fear, my mind became
well sheath'd with emulation;
Tight rigg'd on board the good ship Fame,
I took an ear y station,
Nor dream'd, when thus I went to sea
that after ha d enduri g,
It would so hap that Tom wou'd be
laid up in Greenwich moorings.

From boy to man, from c ime to c ime,
in quest of g ory roaming,
Weather'd oft and many a time
rough gales and billows foaming:
Where ihtenings flash and thunders jar,
and fever d s as are rolling:
Where mermaids smile in liquid car,
'midst dread tornadoes how ing,
Still Hawser's heart was rigg'd with glee,
in spite of past end ri gs:
Nor harbour'd e'er a thought that he
should lie in Greenwich moorings.

Whate'er I ear 'd by sweat of brow,
was squander'd soon in folly
Nor one refl ction did bestow,
except on lovely Molly.
But tho' ove's com ass still my heart
to Molly’s charms direct d,
In ’er from duty did depart
n r B itain's fame neglected.
When gold grew scant, I went to sea,
and left her fond assurings;
Nor thought my batter'd hull should be
laid up in Greenwich moorings.