 | Complete works (1925-27) |  |
78
BALLAD
It was when cocks began to crow
And the dawn lay white and low.
And the dawn lay white and low.
The mother slept upon the bed,
The child slept on her bosom dead.
The child slept on her bosom dead.
When the floor was grey with light,
She looked into the dawn all white.
She looked into the dawn all white.
A bird sang at the window-sill
And of its song was never still.
And of its song was never still.
As she heard him singing sweet,
Fear crept down her to the feet.
Fear crept down her to the feet.
She looked against the morning red,
And knew that the white child was dead.
And knew that the white child was dead.
She looked against the morning bird,
It sang, she spake not any word.
It sang, she spake not any word.
She cursed it in her heart and wept,
And very still the white child slept.
And very still the white child slept.
‘O sister, sing me some old word,
For I would not hear the singing bird.’
For I would not hear the singing bird.’
‘O what is this pain about your face?
And what shall I sing in the dead child's place?’
And what shall I sing in the dead child's place?’
79
‘Fear not here to sing my song,
For the child shall feel no wrong.’
For the child shall feel no wrong.’
Then the maiden's singing shrill
All the frore grey dawn did fill.
All the frore grey dawn did fill.
‘What thing is this? I hear no word
But ever the same song of the bird.
But ever the same song of the bird.
‘Thou dost not well to use me so,
Thy song is very dull and low.’
Thy song is very dull and low.’
‘O sister, the song is new and sweet,
It is the dead child singing it.’
It is the dead child singing it.’
The white bird from the sill was gone,
The white face shone in the straight sun.
The white face shone in the straight sun.
Ere the sweet new song was done,
On two dead faces came the sun.
On two dead faces came the sun.
Ere the song was ended meet,
The mother's voice was mixed in it.
The mother's voice was mixed in it.
Under the drawn threads of the shroud
Came two voices that sang loud.
Came two voices that sang loud.
The girls that carried out the bier
Felt their set hands loosen with fear.
Felt their set hands loosen with fear.
Under the grass for two days long
There sang all day a sweet new song.
There sang all day a sweet new song.
In a green place both lie dead,
The child sleeps at the grave's head.
The child sleeps at the grave's head.
| Complete works (1925-27) | |