Hey nonny-nonny, many know
a Swan winged with manuscript,
hey nonny-nonny, many flow
with quills sharp and blackly tipped.
And he wrote a many a bonny plot,
and we read a many a nonny thought.
Hey bonny-bonny, maybe he
came to be by the Avon,
hey bonny-bonny, he may be
less a Swan than a Raven.
And he dreamt a many a bonny dream,
and he seemed a many a nonny seem.
Hey wanny-wanny, swanling dead
afore he could take to wing,
hey wanny-wanny, twinling bed
a half-empty nesting thing.
And he gave a many a bonny act,
and he gave nought as ought nor aught of fact.