John-a-Dreams and Harum-Scarum <br />Came a-riding into town: <br />At the Sign o' the Jug-and-Jorum <br />There they met with Low-lie-down. <br /> <br />Brave in shoes of Romany leather, <br />Bodice blue and gypsy gown, <br />And a cap of fur and feather, <br />In the inn sat Low-lie-down. <br /> <br />Harum-Scarum kissed her lightly; <br />Smiled into her eyes of brown: <br />Clasped her waist and held her tightly, <br />Laughing, 'Love me, Low-lie-down!' <br /> <br />Then with many an oath and swagger, <br />As a man of great renown, <br />On the board he clapped his dagger, <br />Called for sack and sat him down. <br /> <br />So a while they laughed together; <br />Then he rose and with a frown <br />Sighed, 'While still 'tis pheasant weather, <br />I must leave thee, Low-lie-down.' <br /> <br />So away rode Harum-Scarum; <br />With a song rode out of town; <br />At the Sign o' the Jug-and-Jorum <br />Weeping tarried Low-lie-down. <br /> <br />Then this John-a-dreams, in tatters, <br />In his pocket ne'er a crown, <br />Touched her, saying, 'Wench, what matters! <br />Dry your eyes and, come, sit down. <br /> <br />'Here's my hand: we'll roam together, <br />Far away from thorp and town. <br />Here's my heart, - for any weather, - <br />And my dreams, too, Low-lie-down. <br /> <br />'Some men call me dreamer, poet: <br />Some men call me fool and clown - <br />What I am but you shall know it, <br />Only you, sweet Low-lie-down.' <br /> <br />For a little while she pondered: <br />Smiled: then said, 'Let care go drown!' <br />Up and kissed him. . . . Forth they wandered, <br />John-a-dreams and Low-lie-down.<br /><br />Madison Julius Cawein<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ballad-of-low-lie-down/
