71 THE MERMAN AND THE MERMAID

I

Who would be

A merman bold,

Sitting alone,

Singing alone

Under the sea,

With a crown of gold,

On a throne?

II

Who would be

A mermaid fair,

Singing alone,

Combing her hair

Under the sea,

In a golden curl

With a comb of pearl,

On a throne?

(Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

Word list

me rman: a legendary sea creature with a man's upper body and a fish's tail

me rmaid: a legendary sea creature with a woman's upper body and a fish's tail

bold: brave

throne: a seat that a king or queen sits on

You Practice

Rhyme time—Find words in the poem that rhyme with these ones.

1) cold - _ _ _ _

2) bone - _ _ _ _ _

3) three - _ _ _

4) played - _ _ _ _ _ _ _

5) squirrel - _ _ _ _