THE LADY & THE GHOST

Bess, she had a likely lad, and that lad he had Bess. Why he went out on Hallows eve is anybody’s guess.

He lost his way and climbed a hill to see what could be seen— Glided up to him from out the mists a grim and ghostly queen.

“One kiss, my handsome Will,” she cried, “One kiss! I claim my prize. or those who climb up Tanner’s Hill are driven mad, or wise.”

Now Will he fancied wisdom if it would get him back to Bess. He bowed to the ghostly figure, bestowed on it a kiss.

ess, she had a likely lad,B and that lad he had Bess.

Why he went out on Hallows eve is anybody’s guess.

He lost his way and climbed a hill to see what could be seen—

Glided up to him from out the mists a grim and ghostly queen.

“One kiss, my handsome Will,” she cried,

“One kiss! I claim my prize. or those who climb up Tanner’s Hill Just one kiss from my clay-cold lips are driven mad, or wise.” and you’ll never be alone.

Now Will he fancied wisdom And he saw gold abounding, if it would get him back to Bess. riches more than he could name. He bowed to the ghostly figure, He gathered gems up in his hands bestowed on it a kiss. and then he turned back home.

Just one kiss from my clay-cold lips Bess waited with a lantern and you’ll never be alone. brushing her flowing hair. She thought she heard Will in the lane And he saw gold abounding, ess, she had a likely lad,riches more than he could name. and that lad he had Bess. He gathered gems up in his hands Why he went out on Hallows eve and then he turned back home. is anybody’s guess.

He lost his way and climbed a hill to see what could be seen— Glided up to him from out the mists a grim and ghostly queen.

by JENNIFER A. McGOWAN

Bess waited with a lantern brushing her flowing hair. She thought she heard Will in the lane but nobody walked there.

She thought she heard Will by the byre but no-one passed it by. She thought she heard him at the door; she thought she heard him sigh.

He climbed in through the window reached his hand hers to have. But Will had found his wisdom in the bed of an early grave.

Just one kiss from my clay-cold lips and you’ll never be alone.

Bess felt his hand pass through her own put on her cloak of green ran crying through the lonely night to face the ghastly queen. “I’ll pay your price, you hag,” she swore as she clomb Tanner’s Hill. “You shall have my cursed kiss, and I shall have my Will.”

The queen laughed soft but she laughed long, “I fear not to be spurned.” A kiss then to her Bessie threw and was kissed in return.

The morning sun dawned bright and gay and Bess awoke and saw The ranks of dead men in the dew a hundred strong, or more.

Just one kiss from my clay-cold lips and you’ll never be alone.

Now Bess among the living waits for Time to claim his own. The faithful dead walk at her side and she’s never alone.