They stay, and stay, and stay.

“There be three Herrings loitering around,

Longing to share that mossy seat:

Each Herring tries to sing what she has found

That makes Life seem so sweet.

Thus, with a grating and uncertain sound,

They bleat, and bleat, and bleat.

“The Mother-Herring, on the salt sea-wave,

Sought vainly for her absent ones:

The Father-Badger, writhing in a cave,