The Sailor's Song Poem by Paul Fort

I LOVED the mother, and I loved the daughter. He sails for many a month, does sailor Jack. I loved the mother when I left her; I loved the daughter, too, when I came back.

One woman is as good as any other! When I set sail I had the bloomin' blues. When I came back we all went on the booze. The mother's dead, the daughter is a mother.

A sailor sails for months and months, my dears. Hello, it's time this tar was on the water. Now, Mammy, keep a sharp eye on yer daughter. I'm coming back for her in fifteen years.

translated by Jethro Bithel