Poems by "Cushag"/The Phynodderee
THE PHYNODDEREE
Ho! Ho! the Phynodderee!
Swinging by himself in the Tramman Tree.
I once was lord of a fairy clan,
But I loved a lass in the Isle of Man;
Her eyes were like the shallows of the mountain stream,
Her hair was like the cornfield's golden gleam
Her voice was like the ringdove's, soft and slow,
Her smile was like the sunbeam's—come and go;
But alas and alack-a-day!
The jealous fairy maids stole my love away.
And now I'm all alone in the Tramman Tree.
Swinging by myself in the Tramman Tree.
Alas and alack-a-day!
Ho! ho! the Phynodderee!
Swinging by himself in the Tramman Tree.
I was once a prince in the fairy land,
But I failed to come at the kings command;
His wrath was like the thunder in the mountain gills,
His eyes were like the lightning on the lone dark hills;
His voice was like the raging of the boiling tide,
As he hurled me down to the earth to bide,
And alas and alack-a-day!
The whole night long I must work away
Till daylight sends me up to the Tramman Tree,
Swinging by myself in the Tramman Tree.
Alas and alack-a-day
Ho! ho! the Phynodderee!
Swinging by himself in the Tram man Tree.
I fetched the stone to Tholt-y-Will;
I saved the sheep on the snow-clad hill;
I saw the storm was coming while the farmer snored;
I drove the sheep before me while the Howlaa roared,
I folded them in safety beneath the creg,
And hunted over Snaefell for the loaghtan beg;
But alas and alack-a-day.
A witch she was, and she would not stay
Till daylight sent me up to the Tramman Tree,
To swing by myself in the Tramman Tree.
Alas and alack-a-day!
Ho! ho! the Phynodderee!
Swinging by himself in the Tramman Tree.
I threshed the corn in the lonely night,
And swept the house in the still moonlight.
I watched the sleeping haggart while the dog took rest,
And drove away the witches that dared molest;
I milked the cows at dawning and eased their heads,
And soothed the patient horses in their tired beds,
But alas and alack-a-day!
The farmer thought I worked because I wanted pay!
And left a coat and breeches for the poor Phynodderee;
So his lassie cannot see him in the Tramman Tree
Swinging by himself in the Tramman Tree.
Alas and alack-a-day.