I came to your town, my love, <br /> And you were away, away! <br />I said "She is with the Queen's maidens: <br /> They tarry long at their play. <br />They are stringing her words like pearls <br />To throw to the dukes and earls." <br /> But O, the pity! <br />I had but a morn of windy red <br />To come to the town where you were bred, <br /> And you were away, away! <br /> <br />I came to your town, my love, <br /> And you were away, away! <br />I said, "She is with the mountain elves <br /> And misty and fair as they. <br />They are spinning a diamond net <br />To cover her curls of jet." <br /> But O, the pity! <br />I had but a noon of searing heat <br />To come to your town, my love, my sweet, <br /> And you were away, away! <br /> <br />I came to your town, my love, <br /> And you were away, away! <br />I said, "She is with the pale white saints, <br /> And they tarry long to pray. <br />They give her a white lily-crown, <br />And I fear she will never come down." <br /> But O, the pity! <br />I had but an even grey and wan <br />To come to your town and plead as man, <br /> And you were away, away!<br /><br />Jessie Mackay<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-folk-song/
