Come gather round, young sailors all
And listen to a tale so tall
Of ships and seas and pirates bold
And daring deeds of old.

A galley sleek and fast at sail
Was feared by all without fail
Her rigging taut, her mast held high
She made her foes all quiver and sigh.

But then there was the ketch so grand
A ship that ruled the sea and land
With a notorious crew and fearsome might
She struck fear into every sight.

A junk with sails so wide and bright
Came next into our sight
Her crew worked hard from dawn till dusk
In hopes of finding wealth and luck.

And then there was the sloop so fine
That sailed the waves like sweetest wine
Her corsair crew were brave and true
And their adventures were never few.

Last of all we have the longboat
A vessel that could truly float
Her rigging simple but strong and true
She could sail the ocean through and through.

So that's the story of these ships so grand
And the brave sailors who manned their stands
May you find adventure on the sea
And follow your dreams wherever they may be.

Reflections

Here are a few questions to ask kids to think about the story:

1. What was your favorite ship and why?
2. What do you think it would be like to be a pirate on one of these ships?
3. Have you ever been on a boat or ship before? What was it like?
4. What do you think it would be like to sail on the open ocean for a long time?
5. What other types of ships or boats can you think of? How are they different from the ones in the story?