And off I went a-sailing with my captain, John Paul Jones.

We drifted down the avenue that was our sweep of sea.

And never man or mermaid any happier than we.

We paused beside a paradise depicted on a sign;

We moored fast to the margin of its crimson border line.

We slipped our surf-filled sandals off, we waded to the knee,

And when I felt like swooning John Paul Jones supported me.

The darkness hesitated, fearing we might lose our way;

We counted all the street lamps ’ere we homeward sought to stray.

We counted corner lanterns, and the understanding stars