Ships by Michael Rosen

A ship in a bottle

sails down the mantlepiece.

A ship in a photo 
brings Granma here.

Ships they talk and talk about. 
Ships far and near.

How did the ship 
get in the bottle?

Ships by night and by day. 
Ships they talk and talk about.

Why did Granma come to stay? 

Who put the ship in the bottle?

Ships that they once knew. 
Ships they talk and talk about. 
Why didn’t Grandad come too?

When did the ship go in the bottle? 

Ships sailing far and near. 
Ships they talk and talk about. 
Who else didn’t come here?

Who broke the ship in the bottle? 
Can anyone tell me why?

Ships they talk and talk about. 
And why did the baby die?