A5 edited version 27 3 pages

My true love went riding out I n w h i t e a n d g r e e n a n d g r e y

Past the pale of wall W h e r e s h e w a s w a n t t o s t r a y And there she came upon A white and wounded faun.

Singing,

“Oh, oh.

The hazards of love.”

She, being full of charity A c r e d i t t o h e r s e x ,

Sought to right the faun’s hind legs When here her plans were vexed.

T h e T a i g a s h i f t e d s t r a n g e .

T h e b e a s t b e g a n t o c h a n g e .

Singing,

“Oh, oh.

The hazards of love.”

The Hazards of Love.

You’ll learn soon enough.

T h e p r e t t i e s t w h i s t l e s w o n t

W r e s t l e t h e t h i s t l e s u n d o n e .

Undone.

F i f t e e n l i t h e s o m e m a i d e n s l a y A l o n e i n t h e i r b o w e r ,

F o u r t e e n o c c u p a t i o n s p a y , to pass the idle hour.

M a r g a r e t h e a v e s a s i g h ,

Her hands clasped to her thigh.

Singing,

“Oh, oh.

The hazards of love.”

T h e h a z a r d s o f l o v e ,

You’ll learn soon enough.

T h e p r e t t i e s t w h i s t l e s w o n t

Wrestle the thistles undone.

Undone.

Thou inconsolable daughter S a i d t h e s i s t e r . “When wilt thou trouble the water I n t h e c i s t e r n ?

A n d w h a t i r a s c i b l e b l a c k g u a r d I s t h e f a t h e r ? �

A n d w h e n y o u n g M a r g a r e t ’ s w a i s t l i n e G r e w w i d e r , T h e f r u i t o f h e r a m o r o u s i n t w i n e I n s i d e h e r .

And so our heroine withdraws:

To the Taiga.

G e n t l e l e a v e s , g e n t l e l e a v e s , P l e a s e a r r a y a p a t h f o r m e , T h e w o o d s a r e g r o w i n g T h i c k a n d f a s t a r o u n d .

C o l u m b i n e , c o l u m b i n e , P l e a s e a l e r t t h i s l o v e o f m i n e , L e t h i m k n o w h i s M a r g a r e t C o m e s a l o n g .

A n d a l l t h i s s t i r r i n g i n s i d e m y b e l l y W o n ’ t q u e l l m y w a n t f o r l o v e ;

A n d I m a y s w o o n f r o m a l l T h i s s w e l l i n g b u t I w o n ’ t w a n t F o r l o v e .

M i s t l e t h r u s h , m i s t l e t h r u s h , L a y m e d o w n i n t h e u n d e r b r u s h , M y n a k e d f e e t g r o w W e a r y w i t h t h e d u s k .

W i l l o w b o u g h s , w i l l o w b o u g h s , M a k e a b e d t o l a y m e d o w n , L e t y o u r b r a n c h e s b o w T o c r a d l e u s .

O m y o w n t r u e l o v e , O my own true love.

C a n y o u h e a r m e , l o v e ?

Can you hear me, love?

C a n y o u h e a r m e , l o v e ?

Can you hear me, love?

H e r e I a m ,

S o f t e r t h a n a s h o w e r ,

H e r e I a m ,

T o g a r l a n d y o u w i t h f l o w e r s ;

To lay you down

O n c l o v e r b e d s , T h e s t a r s , a r o o f A b o v e o u r h e a d s .

A n d a l l m y l i f e , I n e v e r f e l t t h e t r e m o r , A n d a l l m y l i f e , T h a t n o w d i s t u r b s m y f i n g e r s ;

T o l a y y o u d o w n O n c l o v e r b e d s , T h e s t a r s , a r o o f A b o v e o u r h e a d s .

A n d w e ’ l l l i e t i l t h e C o r n c r a k e c r o w s .

B e r e f t o f t h e w e i g h t o f o u r Summer clothes.

A n d I w o u l d w a g e r a l l F o r t h e h a z a r d s o f l o v e .

A n d t a k e m y h a n d , A n d c r a d l e i t i n y o u r h a n d

A n d t a k e m y h a n d , To feel the pull, the quicksand.

I ’ l l l a y y o u d o w n I n c l o v e r b e d s ; T h e s t a r s , a r o o f A b o v e o u r h e a d s .

A n d w e ’ l l l i e t i l t h e C o r n c r a k e c r o w s .

B e r e f t o f t h e w e i g h t o f o u r S u m m e r c l o t h e s .

F o r I w o u l d w a g e r a l l , F o r t h e s e h a z a r d s o f l o v e .

I s n ’ t i t a l o v e l y n i g h t ?

A n d s o a l i v e w i t h f i r e f l i e s P r o v i d i n g u s t h e i r h o l y l i g h t .

A n d h e r e w e m a d e a b e d o f B o u g h s , a n d t h i s t l e d o w n t h a t W e f o u n d t o l a y u p o n t h e D e w y g r o u n d .

A n d i s n ’ t i t a l o v e l y w a y W e g o t i n f r o m o u r p l a y ?

I s n ’ t i t b a b e ?

A sweet little baby.

W a s n ’ t i t a l o v e l y b r e e z e ?

T h a t s w e p t t h e l e a v e s Of arbour eaves,

A n d b e n t u s t o Brush our blushing knees.

A n d t h e r e w e d i e d O u r l i t t l e d e a t h s , A n d w e w e r e l e f t T o c a t c h o u r b r e a t h s S o s w i f t l y l i f t i n g From our chests.

And isn’t it a lovely way, W e g o t i n f r o m o u r p l a y .

I s n ’ t i s b a b e ?

A sweet little baby.

M o t h e r I c a n h e a r y o u r f o o t f a l l , N o w , A s o f t d i s t u r b a n c e i n t h e d e a d f o g H o w , I t p r e c e e d s y o u l i k e a b l a c k s m o k e , P a l l ,

Still the wanting comes in waves.

Y o u d e l i v e r e d m e f r o m d a n g e r , T h e n , Pulled my cradle from the reedy G l e n , S w o r e t o s a v e m e f r o m t h e w o r l d o f M e n .

Still the wanting comes in waves.

Still the wanting comes in waves.

H o w I m a d e y o u , I w r o u g h t y o u , I p u l l e d y o u .

F r o m o r e I l a b o u r e d y o u , F r o m c a n c e r I c r a d l e d y o u .

A n d n o w . . .

This is how I am repaid?

R e m e m b e r w h e n I f o u n d y o u ?

T h e m i s e r i e s t h a t h o u n d e d y o u .

A n d I g a v e y o u m o t i o n A n o i n t e d w i t h l o t i o n s .

A n d n o w . . . .

This is how I am repaid?

M o t h e r h e a r t h i s p r o p o s i t i o n , r i g h t ?

G i v e m e f r e e d o m t o e n j o y t h i s n i g h t ?

A n d I ’ l l r e t u r n t o y o u a t B r e a k o f l i g h t ?

F o r t h e w a n t i n g c o m e s i n w a v e s , Still the wanting comes in waves.

I h a d e n t e r e d i n t o a m a r r i a g e , I n t h e s u m m e r o f m y T w e n t y f i r s t y e a r ,

A n d t h e b e l l s r a n g f o r o u r w e d d i n g , Only now do I remember it clear.

N o m o r e a r a k e a n d N o m o r e a b a c h e l o r , I w a s w e d d e d a n d i t W h e t t e d m y t h i r s t .

U n t i l h e r w o m b s t a r t e d S p i l l i n g o u t b a b i e s , O n l y t h e n d i d I Reckon my curse.

F i r s t c a m e E z i a h

W i t h h i s c r i n k l e d

Little fingers.

T h e n c a m e C h a r l o t t e A n d t h a t w r e t c h e d Girl, Dawn.

U g l y M y f a n w y d i e d o n d e l i v e r y , Mercifully taking her mother along.

W h a t c a n o n e d o w h e n O n e i s a w i d o w e r ?

S h a m e f u l l y s a d d l e d w i t h T h r e e l i t t l e p e s t s ;

A l l t h a t I w a n t e d w a s t h e F r e e d o m o f a n e w l i f e ,

S o m y b u r d e n I b e g a n To divest...

C h a r l o t t e I b u r i e d a f t e r Feeding a foxglove.

D a w n w a s e a s y She was drowned in the bath.

E z i a h f o u g h t b u t W a s e a s i l y b e s t e d , B u r n e d h i s b o d y f o r I n c u r r i n g m y w r a t h .

A n d t h a t ’ s h o w I c a m e Y o u r h u m b l e n a r r a t o r , T o b e l i v i n g s o e a s y a n d f r e e I e x p e c t y o u t h i n k t h a t I s h o u l d b e h a u n t e d ,

But it never really bothers me.

A n d a l l t h e w h i l e w h i s p e r i n g a r b o u r s P r o v i d e c o v e r , W h a t p r e v i o u s w i t n e s s e d a r d o u r s O f o u r l o v e r s ,

O u r h e r o i n e p r a y s f a l l t o Her abductor...

A l l a g a l l o p w i t h M a r g a r e t

Slung rude ‘cross withers,

H a v i n g c l a m p e d h e r i n n o c e n t f i n g e r s I n f e t t e r s ,

T h i s v i l l a i n m u s t c a l c u l a t e c r o s s i n g

The wild river...

I ’ m m a d e o f b o n e s

O f t h e b r a n c h e s t h e b o u g h s

And the brow-beating light,

W h i l e m y f e e t a r e t h e t r u n k s

And my head is the canopy high

A n d m y f i n g e r s e x t e n d t o t h e l e a v e s

I n t h e e v e s , a n d t h e b r i g h t .

B r i g h t e r s h i n e , I t ’ s m y s h i n e .

And he was a baby abandoned, Entombed in a cradle of clay,

A n d I w a s a s o u l w h o t o o k p i t y And stole him away, A n d g a v e h i m t h e f o r m o f a f a u n T o i n h a b i t b y d a y .

B r i g h t e s t d a y , I t ’ s m y d a y .

A n d y o u h a v e r e m o v e d t h i s t e m p t a t i o n t h a t ’ s t r o u b l e d m y i n n o c e n t c h i l d ,

To abduct and abuse And to render her rift and defile, B u t t h e r i v e r i s d e e p t o t h e b a n k s And the water is wild!

I w i l l f l y y o u T o t h e f a r s i d e .

A n n a n w a t e r , Y o u l o o m s o d e e p A n d w i d e .

I would cross over I f y o u w o u l d s t e m T h e t i d e ,

Build a boat T h a t I m i g h t f o r d t h e O t h e r s i d e ?

To reach the farther shore W h e r e m y t r u e l o v e l i e s In wait for me.

Oh, grey river Y o u r w a t e r s r a m b l e w i d e

The horses shiver And bite against the bridle

But I will cross If mine own horse is pulled from me

T h o u g h m y m o t h e r c r i e s t h a t I f I t r y I s u r e w i l l Drowned be.

But if you calm, And let me pass, You may render me a wreck W h e n I c o m e b a c k .

So calm your waves, And slow the churn, A n d y o u m a y h a v e m y p r e c i o u s Bones on my return.

Annan water, O h h e a r m y t r u e l o v e ’ s c a l l :

Hear her holler A b o v e y o u r w a t e r ’ s p a l l .

God, that I could That my two arms could give me wing!

And I would cross your breadth And rest my breast about her amber ring.

But if you calm, And let me pass, You may render me a wreck W h e n I c o m e b a c k .

So calm your waves, And slow the churn, A n d y o u m a y h a v e m y p r e c i o u s Bones on my return.

I have snipped your wingspan, My precious captive swan Here all clipped of kickstand, Your spirit won’t last long.

Don’t you lift a finger, Don’t you snap and jaw.

Limber limbs akimbo, Rest till rubbing raw.

O h m y o w n t r u e l o v e , O h m y o w n t r u e l o v e !

C a n y o u h e a r m e , l o v e ?

Can you hear me, love?

Don’t hold out for rescue None can hear your call, Till I have rest and wrecked you Behind these fortress walls.

O m y o w n t r u e l o v e , O m y o w n t r u e l o v e !

C a n y o u h e a r m e , l o v e ?

Can you hear me, love?

F a t h e r , I ’ m n o t f e e l i n g w e l l - T h e f l o w e r s M e y o u f e d , M u s t h a v e s p o i l e d F o r s u d d e n l y I find t h a t I a m d e a d .

B u t F a t h e r , D o n ’ t y o u f e a r .

Y o u r c h i l d r e n a l l Are here.

Singing,

“Oh, oh.

The hazards of love.”

F a t h e r , T u r n t h e w a t e r d o w n , T h e b a s i n ’ s o v e r f l o w n .

T h e w a t e r c o v e r s E v e r y t h i n g a n d m e Left all alone.

B u t P a p a , H e r e i n d e a t h ,

I h a v e r e g a i n e d My breath.

Singing,

“Oh, oh.

The hazards of love.”

Spare the rod, you’ll spoil the child But I prefer the lash My sisters drowned and poisoned All of me reduced to ash

B u r i e d i n a n u r n , But Father I return.

Singing,

“Oh, oh.

The hazards of love.”

Singing,

“Oh, oh.

The hazards of love.”

The hazards of love.

And here come the waves.

M a r g a r e t a r r a y e d t h e r o c k s a r o u n d T h e h u l l b e f o r e I t w a s s i n k i n g ,

A m i l l i o n s t o n e s , a m i l l i o n b o n e s , A m i l l i o n h o l e s w i t h i n The chinking.

A n d p a i n t i n g r i n g s Around your eyes these peppered Holes so filled with crying..

A w h i s p e r w e i g h e d u p o n T h e t a t t e r e d d o w n Where you and I were lying.

T e l l m e n o w , t e l l m e t h i s , A f o r e s t ’ s s o n , A river’s daughter,

A w i l l o w o n t h e w i l l o w w i s p , O u r g h o s t s w i l l w a n d e r All of the water.

S o l e t ’ s b e m a r r i e d h e r e t o d a y T h e s e r u s h i n g w a v e s t o B a r e o u r w i t n e s s ,

A n d w e w i l l l y e l i k e r i v e r s t o n e s R o l l i n g o n l y w h e r e It takes us.

O h M a r g a r e t t h e l a p p i n g w a v e s A r e l i c k i n g q u i e t l y At our ankles,

A n o t h e r b o w a n o t h e r b r e a t h t h i s B r i l l i a n t c h i l l ’ s c o m e F o r t h e s h a c k l e .

W i t h t h i s l o n g l a s t r u s h o f a i r W e s p e a k o u r v o w s And sorry whispers,

W h e n t h e w a v e s c a m e c r a s h i n g d o w n , H e c l o s e d h i s e y e s And softly kissed her.

A n d I c a u g h t y o u And I brought you here.

T h e s e h a z a r d s o f l o v e , Never more will trouble us.