Lower Pool Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

“Where are you bound for,
Sailorman, sailorman
With the missis and the dog
And your big spreets’l flopping?”
“Maldon, Manningtree,
West as far’s the Wight, maybe,
With bricks, hay,
China-clay,
Bit o’ that or
Bit o’ this,
Don’t much matter
What it is -
Here, there
Everywhere,
And back again to Wapping . . . .”

“Where are you bound for,
Sailorman, sailorman
Up and down the coast
For a little bit o’ shopping?”
“Shields, Tyne, Grimsby, Goole,
Hull, Hell an’ Hartlepool,
With salt, soap,
Coals and rope,
Bit o that or
Bit o’ this
Don’t much matter
What it is -
Here, there
Everywhere,
And back again to Wapping . . . .”

“Where are you bound for,
Sailorman, sailorman
Down from Lower Pool
On the late tide dropping?”
“’Cross the bay and sou’ Spain,
Round the world and home again,
With motor-cars, steel rails
Worcester sauce and bags o’ nails,
Cloves, cork, cotton seed,
Soya beans and parrot-feed,
Bit o’ that or
Bit o’ this
Don’t much matter
What it is -
Here, there
Everywhere,
And back again to Wapping . . . .”