The homonym vendor rode fast down the road
In a cart that was towed by a Natterjack toad
A great profit awaited, the prophet had foretold
If he set sail then his sale would increase tenfold
Through the arc of the gangplank, he boarded the ark
A fair fare to the shipwright allowed him to embark
On a cold foggy morn he did see on the sea
A flea-ridden ship –far too close to flee
Crossbones on a flag that he had nearly missed
The menacing ship through the cold morning mist
Surrounded by pirates, nothing to do but pray!
Falling prey to the pirates –quite an unlucky day!
Brandishing blades of a sharp polished steel
They tore through the ark searching for something to steal
The vendor was thankful, no harm befell him
But he’d lost his whole crop –every single last homonym!
Dejected, but still with a hope to succeed
He cast a line in the water past a patch of seaweed
Feeling a strong bite, quickly he reeled his line in
A stringed instrument, like a giant violin
A largemouth fish housed inside, but it simply won’t do
A bass in a bass? Heteronyms won’t earn revenue!
He threw them both back, but he wouldn’t quit
Though he was quite discouraged he had to admit.
Through that cold ocean water his persistence paid off
He’d fish till his haul was not worthy of scoff
For the second time now he felt on his line
A giant tug through the water, a very good sign!
A scaredy-cat fowl on a mammal with no hair?
It was a chicken chicken, atop a bare bear!
“Now that’s more like it!” The vendor did shout.
And once again with a smile he cast his line out.
A kind animal and four-sided shape (for which fun times were rare)
It was a dear deer housed inside a square square!
Before that day was up his luck, it sure did change!
He’d caught more than he’d lost, ten times over and some change!