Seamen of old were often able to predict the weather – and thus survive at sea – by observing the appearance of the sky, the direction of the wind, cloud formations, and other natural phenomena. Following are some weather rhymes or jingles that have for centuries helped mariners to remember these conditions:
Rainbow at night is the sailor’s delight;
Rainbow at morning, sailors, take warning.
Mackeral skies and mares’ tails
Make tall ships carry short sails.
When the porpoise jumps,
Stand by at your pumps.
Seagull, seagull, sit on the sand,
It’s never good weather when you’re on the land.
First rise after low
Foretells a stronger blow.
I the sun goes pale to bed
‘Twill rain tomorrow, it is said.
Wild geese, wild geese, gangin’ I’ the sea
Good weather it will be.