Enough Rope/The Dark Girl’s Rhyme
The Dark Girl’s Rhyme
WHO was there had seen us
Wouldn’t bid him run?
Heavy lay between us
All our sires had done.
Wouldn’t bid him run?
Heavy lay between us
All our sires had done.
There he was, a-springing
Of a pious race—
Setting hags a-swinging
In a market-place;
Of a pious race—
Setting hags a-swinging
In a market-place;
Sowing turnips over
Where the poppies lay;
Looking past the clover,
Adding up the hay;
Where the poppies lay;
Looking past the clover,
Adding up the hay;
Shouting through the Spring song,
Clumping down the sod;
Toadying, in sing-song,
To a crabbèd god.
Clumping down the sod;
Toadying, in sing-song,
To a crabbèd god.
There I was, that came of
Folk of mud and flame—
I that had my name of
Them without a name.
Folk of mud and flame—
I that had my name of
Them without a name.
Up and down a mountain
Streeled my silly stock;
Passing by a fountain,
Wringing at a rock;
Streeled my silly stock;
Passing by a fountain,
Wringing at a rock;
Devil-gotten sinners,
Throwing back their heads;
Fiddling for their dinners,
Kissing for their beds.
Throwing back their heads;
Fiddling for their dinners,
Kissing for their beds.
Not a one had seen us
Wouldn’t help him flee.
Angry ran between us
Blood of him and me.
Wouldn’t help him flee.
Angry ran between us
Blood of him and me.
How shall I be mating
Who have looked above—
Living for a hating,
Dying of a love?
Who have looked above—
Living for a hating,
Dying of a love?