Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PASTORAL, by DOMINIC BEVAN WYNDHAM LEWIS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PASTORAL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The lumpish trollop! / let 'er bleed
Last Line: In bristol moll —
Alternate Author Name(s): Shy, Timothy; Lewis, Wyndham
Subject(s): Crime & Criminals; Death; Masefield, John (1878-1967); Dead, The


'The lumpish trollop!
Let 'er bleed;
I'll gie 'er a wallop,'
Said Farmer Seed.

The black old man
As he went past
Knifed his girl Nan,
Muttering 'Blast!'

From the chimney corner
Ironing clothes
Old Grandma Horner
Spat out oaths.

'D—n you, Pa!'
Roared Seed's son Fred;
Caught up a crowbar,
Stunned him dead.

'Ha' done, you swine!'
'You gorbling trull!'
'Gorm you, it's mine!'
'By Zookers, you shull!'

Old Uncle Twitchen
Choked and blue;
Ned in the kitchen
Strangling Sue.

They hanged Seed soon
In Gloucester Jail;
In the full moon
From a nail.

George and Fred
Killed each other;
He was a good lad,
Good at kicking the ball.

His father clubbed
The girl on the head.
Young Will upped
And shot him dead.

'Now, sister,' said Will,
'I've a-killed father,
As I said I'd kill.
O my love, I'd rather

'A-kill him again
Than see you suffer.
O my little Jane,
Kiss good-bye to your brother.

'I won't see you again,
Nor the cows homing,
Nor the mice in the grain,
Nor the primrose coming,

'For I'll be hung
In Gloucester prison
When the bell's rung
And the sun's risen.

They hanged Will
As Will said;
With one thrill
They choked him dead ...
All are dead
Save their mother.

From Starvegoose Farm
She wandered raving,
Biting her arm
And gnawing the paving.

In Bristol Moll —





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