THE YONGHY-BONGHY-BO
by: Edward Lear (1812-1888)
I
- N the Coast
of Coromandel
- Where the early pumpkins blow,
- In the middle of the woods
- Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
- Two old chairs, and half a candle,
- One old jug without a handle,--
- These were all his worldly goods:
- In the middle of the woods,
- These were all the worldly goods
- Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
- Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
-
- II
-
- Once, among the Bong-trees walking
- Where the early pumpkins blow,
- To a little heap of stones
- Came the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
- There he heard a Lady talking,
- To some milk-white Hens of Dorking,--
- "'T is the Lady Jingly Jones!
- On that little heap of stones
- Sits the Lady Jingly Jones!"
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
-
- III
-
- "Lady Jingly! Lady Jingly!
- Sitting where the pumpkins blow,
- Will you come and be my wife?"
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
- "I am tired of living singly,--
- On this coast so wild and shingly,--
- I'm a-weary of my life;
- If you'll come and be my wife,
- Quite serene would be my life!"
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
-
- IV
-
- "On this Coast of Coromandel
- Shrimps and watercresses grow,
- Prawns are plentiful and cheap,"
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
- "You shall have my chairs and candle,
- And my jug without a handle!
- Gaze upon the rolling deep
- (Fish is plentiful and cheap):
- As the sea, my love is deep!"
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
-
- V
-
- Lady Jingly answered sadly,
- And her tears began to flow,--
- "Your proposal comes to late,
- Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
- I would be your wife most gladly!"
- (Here she twirled her fingers madly,)
- "But in England I've a mate!
- Yes! you've asked me far too late,
- For in England I've a mate,
- Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
- Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
-
- VI
-
- "Mr. Jones (his name is Handel,--
- Handel Jones, Esquire & Co.)
- Dorking fowls delights to send,
- Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
- Keep, oh, keep your chairs and candle,
- And your jug without a handle,--
- I can merely be your friend!
- Should my Jones more Dorkings send,
- I will give you three, my friend!
- Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
- Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
-
- VII
-
- "Though you've such a tiny body,
- And your head so large doth grow,--
- Though your hat may blow away,
- Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
- Though you're such a Hoddy Doddy,
- Yet I wish that I could modi-
- -fy the words I needs must say!
- Will you please to go away?
- That is all I have to say,
- Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
- Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!"
-
- VIII
-
- Down the slippery slopes of Myrtle,
- Where the early pumpkins blow,
- To the calm and silent sea
- Fled the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
- There, beyond the Bay of Gurtle,
- Lay a large and lively Turtle.
- "You're the Cove," he said, "for me:
- On your back beyond the sea,
- Turtle, you shall carry me!"
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
- Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
-
- IX
-
- Through the silent roaring ocean
- Did the Turtle swiftly go;
- Holding fast upon his shell
- Rode the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
- With a sad primæval motion
- Toward the sunset isles of Boshen
- Still the Turtle bore him well,
- Holding fast upon his shell.
- "Lady Jingly Jones, farewell!"
- Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
- Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
-
- X
-
- From the Coast of Coromandel
- Did that Lady never go,
- On that heap of stones she mourns
- For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
- On that Coast of Coromandel,
- In his jug without a handle
- Still she weeps, and daily moans;
- On that little heap of stones
- To her Dorking Hens she moans,
- For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
- For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
"The Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo"
is reprinted from A Nonsense Anthology. Ed. Carolyn Wells.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1915. |
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