Shadowy, dreamy phantoms ever rising
Up before wild Fancy's eyes,
With their untold and beauteous splendor,
...
Sad echoes of unequal strife,
Go sighing through the aftermath,
That skirts the dark uncertain path,
That leads me to the close of life;-
...
'Tis better far to wear away
In honest strong endeavor,
Than idly rust in slow decay
And work and labor never;
...
Someone has written a song about 'Tray,'
But no one has courage to write about Skye;
So methinks I will rhyme, in my own rugged way,
...
An old and crafty terrapin,
Who lately found his speech,
Like many another simple lout,
Concluded he could preach.
...