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.

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Language

English

Original Language

English

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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...

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