Classic Poem

Ten South Sea Island boys
Went fishing for their dinner.
One caught a long gray eel
To keep from growing thinner.

Nine South Sea Island boys
Went fishing with a spear.
One saw a fish with stripes
And speared it straight and clear.

Eight South Sea Island boys
Went diving after shell.
One found an oyster pearl
And liked it very well.

Seven South Sea Island boys
Went fishing on the coral.
One caught a parrot fish.
They cooked it up with laurel.

Six South Sea Island boys
Were splashing as they could,
One caught an octopus —
He thought it tasted good.

Five South Sea Island boys
Went fishing on the reef.
One caught a bright red fish.
Its life was very brief.

Four South Sea Island boys
Were fishing in the creek.
The shrimps went darting quickly by,
But one was just as quick.

Three South Sea Island boys
Set out their lobster traps.
One found a lobster there,
The wicked sort that snaps.

Two South Sea Island boys
Fished with fire at night.
One saw two shining eyes
And stabbed, and hit it right.

One South Sea Island boy
Went fishing with a net.
A sword-fish cut his net in two.
That boy is fishing yet!