Audiobook of The Ballad of the Oysterman

The Ballad of the Oysterman

by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

"A tall young oysterman lived by the river-side, His shop was just upon the bank, his boat was on the tide; The daughter of a fisherman, that was so straight and slim, Lived over on the other bank, right opposite to him." The Ballad of the Oysterman is a humorous and tragic poem about a young oysterman who falls in love with the daughter of a fisherman. The oysterman swims across the river to meet her, but he is caught in a cramp and drowns. The young woman is heartbroken, and she falls into a swoon. The poem ends with the two lovers being transformed into oysters and living together in the bottom of the sea. The Ballad of the Oysterman is a classic example of Oliver Wendell Holmes's wit and wordplay. The poem is full of puns and allusions, and it is sure to make you laugh. However, the poem is also surprisingly moving, and it explores the themes of love, loss, and redemption.

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

English

Published In

Author

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. image

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (August 29, 1809 – October 7, 1894) was an American physician, poet, and polymath based in Boston. Grouped among the fireside poets, he was acclaimed by his peers as one of t...

More on Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

When I set out for Lyonnesse Cover image

When I set out for Lyonnesse by Thomas Hardy

This Weekly poem is from the collection Satires of Circumstance by Thomas Hardy (1914). Lyonnesse was a mythical Kingdom mentioned in the Arthurian le...

Rhymes of a Red Cross Man Cover image

Rhymes of a Red Cross Man by Robert W. Service

In the heart of World War I's devastation, amidst the cacophony of battle and the agonizing cries of the wounded, a silent hero emerges, his compassio...

Poems Every Child Should Know Cover image

Poems Every Child Should Know by Various

This anthology of poetry, published in 1904, contains such favorites as The Raven, My Shadow, and The Village Blacksmith, as well as many lovely poems...

The Hut Cover image

The Hut by Laurence Hope

The book is a celebration of the natural world and the joys and sorrows of human existence. The poems in "The Hut" are deeply personal and introspect...

Summer Dawn Cover image

Summer Dawn by William Morris

It is a beautifully crafted poem that captures the essence of a serene and tranquil summer morning. Written in the late 19th century, the poem evokes...

The Ballad of St. Barbara and Other Verses  Cover image

The Ballad of St. Barbara and Other Verses by Gilbert K. Chesterton

This book of poetry by G. K. Chesterton, originally published in 1922, contain 35 poems on a variety of subjects.

Grown-Up Cover image

Grown-Up by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American lyrical poet and playwright. She won poetry prizes from an early age, including the Pulitzer Prize in 1923, an...

After-Glow Cover image

After-Glow by Susan Coolidge

Sarah Chauncey Woolsey (January 29, 1835 – April 9, 1905) was an American children's author who wrote under the pen name Susan Coolidge. Woolsey worke...

The Tour of Dr. Syntax in Search of the Picturesque Cover image

The Tour of Dr. Syntax in Search of the Picturesque by William Combe

In William Combe's delightful tale, "The Tour of Dr. Syntax in Search of the Picturesque," we are introduced to the eccentric and endearing Dr. Syntax...

The Ballad of Reading Gaol  Cover image

The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde

This poem is mainly based on an execution that took place while he was in the prison. Making it the center of theme, Wild goes on to expose the dire c...

Reviews for The Ballad of the Oysterman

No reviews posted or approved, yet...