I took a walk one gloomy night Across Black Aiken's Lot: And lost I was and cold I was When, lo, I spied a cot! A candle lit was goodly sight As I drew nigh the door, Where such a welcome as I reeved I ne'er had reeved before. A Dame was there in swaiping gown, With twenty padded curs That edged a curious row around And growled when she said, @3"Hers!"@1 "Sit down, Good Sir," the Beldam cried, "Come, sit thee down, I pray!" "@3A willow was I and fell my leaf!@1" A voice warned, thin and gray. "Then broth, Good Sir!" but a wooden spoon Shrilled high within the pot, @3"He cut off the head of the golden hen Beside his father's cot!"@1 The Beldam turned to a peeled stick That in a corner stood: She lashed the curs as it loudly spoke, @3"His navel blessed my wood!"@1 Then flung she trimmings of aged nails, And a hundred whited teeth, But open swung the heavy door And I sped across the heath! And when I'd found my way to town, And told my story fair, Old Luke spat East, North, West and South, -- @3"Black Aiken's Lot is bare."@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BRIDE by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE THE CHALLENGE by ALEXANDER POPE SING-SONG; A NURSERY RHYME BOOK: 48 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE BLUET by W. I. LINCOLN ADAMS MAPLE LEAVES by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE OLD BRIDGE by AUGUSTE ANGELLIER |