Star in The Sea

I took a boat on a starry night and went for a row on the water, and she danced like a child on a wake of light and bowed where the ripples caught her. I vowed, as I rowed on the velvet blue through the night and the starry spendour to woo and sue a maiden I know till she bent to my pleading tender. My painted boat she was light and glad and gladder my heart was wishing, and I came in time to a little lad who stood on the rocks a-fishing. I said "Ahoy!" and he said "Ahoy"! and I asked how the fish were biting; And what are you trying to catch my boy, Bream, silver and red - or Whiting?" "Neither", he answered, "the seaweed mars my line, and the sharp shells sunder; I am trying my luck wth those great big stars down there in the round skies under". "Goodbye!" from him and "Goodbye!" from me, and never a laugh came after; So many fishing for stars in the sea that it's hardly a subject for laughter Roderic Quinn