Enough Rope/The Dark Girl’s Rhyme

The Dark Girl’s Rhyme

WHO was there had seen usWouldn’t bid him run?Heavy lay between usAll our sires had done.
There he was, a-springingOf a pious race—Setting hags a-swingingIn a market-place;
Sowing turnips overWhere 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.
There I was, that came ofFolk of mud and flame—I that had my name ofThem without a name.
Up and down a mountainStreeled 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.
Not a one had seen usWouldn’t help him flee.Angry ran between usBlood of him and me.
How shall I be matingWho have looked above—Living for a hating,Dying of a love?