All chapters

Nonsense Books · Chapter

The Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò explained

Lady Jingly Jones remains on the Coast of Coromandel, mourning the loss of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò, who sailed away in his jug without a handle.

What happens

Lady Jingly Jones remains on the Coast of Coromandel, mourning the loss of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò, who sailed away in his jug without a handle. She weeps daily on a heap of stones, lamenting to her Dorking Hens.

Themes in this chapter

  • Loneliness and Longing

    Lady Jingly's perpetual mourning and daily moans for her lost love

  • Mortality and Loss

    The irreversible separation and enduring grief of Lady Jingly

Characters to notice

Key passages

  • From the Coast of Coromandel Did that Lady never go; On that heap of stones she mourns For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

    Lady Jingly never left the Coast of Coromandel; she remains on a pile of stones grieving for the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

    Describes Lady Jingly's stationary grief

  • On that Coast of Coromandel, In his jug without a handle Still she weeps, and daily moans; On that little heap of stones To her Dorking Hens she moans, For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò, For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

    On the Coast of Coromandel, she continues to weep and moan daily on her small pile of stones, lamenting to her Dorking Hens about the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

    Highlights the repetitive and sorrowful nature of her mourning