Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CRUEL GAMEKEEPER, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CRUEL GAMEKEEPER, by                    
First Line: In buxton town in staffordshire
Last Line: All on the gallows tree so high
Subject(s): Babies;crimes & Criminals;death;murder;pregnancy; "infants;dead, The;


In Buxton Town in Staffordshire,
A farmer's daughter liv'd there,
On a gamekeeper, as we find,
This damsel she did fix her mind.

It happened lately in the Park,
She met her lover with an aching heart,
She said my dear what shall I do,
For I'm big with child by you.

I will not marry yet said he,
For while I'm single I am free,
From his pocket a knife he drew,
And pierc'd her tender body through.

He ripp'd her up and there was by,
A baby in her womb did cry,
He then did hide her among some thorns,
The baby crawled into her arms.

Somebody hearing her to cry,
There they went immediately,
And found them hid among some thorns,
The baby crawling in her arms.

They took the keeper before it was long,
And bound him in a prison strong,
And he was soon condemned to die,
All on the gallows tree so high.





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