 | The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves |  |
ONE AT A TIME
As she sat spinnin' beside her door,
Sweet Kitty Kelly of Farranfore,
In dropped, as often he'd done before,
Ned Byrne, the young Schoolmaster.
He took the seat that she signed him to
And then that same to her side he drew,
When up there hurried big Tom McHugh
Who lived by lath and plaster.
He took the seat that Miss Kate supplied
And drew that same to her other side.
“Now do spake one at a time,” she cried,
“And we'll get on the faster.”
Sweet Kitty Kelly of Farranfore,
In dropped, as often he'd done before,
Ned Byrne, the young Schoolmaster.
He took the seat that she signed him to
And then that same to her side he drew,
When up there hurried big Tom McHugh
Who lived by lath and plaster.
He took the seat that Miss Kate supplied
And drew that same to her other side.
“Now do spake one at a time,” she cried,
“And we'll get on the faster.”
Says Ned, “Miss Kelly, but don't you see,
My business needs but yourself and me.”
“Then since, at present at least, we're three,
'Twill have to wait,” says Kitty.
“Now, Tom McHugh, 'tis your turn to start.”
“Well then, Miss Kitty, first come apart.”
“And hurt poor Ned to the very heart!
Your selfish plans I pity.
But since I've guessed what you're both about,
P'r'aps now 'tis best not to leave you in doubt;
So here's the whole of the murder out—
I'm promised to Daniel Whitty.”
My business needs but yourself and me.”
“Then since, at present at least, we're three,
'Twill have to wait,” says Kitty.
“Now, Tom McHugh, 'tis your turn to start.”
“Well then, Miss Kitty, first come apart.”
“And hurt poor Ned to the very heart!
Your selfish plans I pity.
57
P'r'aps now 'tis best not to leave you in doubt;
So here's the whole of the murder out—
I'm promised to Daniel Whitty.”
| The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves | |