Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BEGGAR MAID, by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: All on a golden morning the beggar maid did go Last Line: "and I must gather berries, the hazel-nut and sloe." Alternate Author Name(s): Sigerson, Dora; Shorter, Mrs. Clement Subject(s): Begging & Beggars | ||||||||
ALL on a golden morning the beggar maid did go To gather branch and berry, the hazel-nut and sloe. And as she went a-singing, a gipsy woman came Beneath a bower of branchesa grey and withered dame. "Your fortune, pretty lady, I pray you stop and hear, I tell of one who loves you, of child you will hold dear. Cross you my palm with silver, for in your hand I see That gold shall lie full often, so pity give to me." The beggar child made answer in laughter low and gay "Alack, you have mistaken, good mother, hie away; I am no high-born lady, my fortune soon is told. I wed some roaming fellow who hath nor land nor gold. "My sonif God should bless mea-seeking too must go To gather branch and berry, the hazel-nut and sloe." Then spake the gipsy woman and took her brown young hand, "Nay, you shall reign hereafter as queen of all the land. "For seethe splendid futurethat whispers of a throne And here the happy heart-line that owns one love alone." "Good mother," said the maiden, "that love make true to be, And I resign the kingdomyet never owned by me." "My daughter," said the gipsy, "he'll clothe you all in white, And set you for your riding a palfrey black as night; Upon your hair so yellow, a jewelled crown shall shine, And gold shall be your wine cup and ruby red your wine." "My throne it is the mountain, my wine the running streams, Such things as power and glory are only sweet in dreams; Good mother," said the maiden, "I pray you let me go, For I must gather brambles, the berry and the sloe. "You meet me but with laughter, a beggar maid am I, Who have no greater kingdom than bird that wings the sky; But like him I go singing who have no wealth to care: None comes her way to envy whose treasure-house is bare." And as she spoke a horn blast came ringing through the wood, She raised her leafy burdena timid moment stood; "Hush, 'tis the King Cophetua, a-hunting he doth go And I must gather berries, the hazel-nut and sloe." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GENERATIONS by LUCILLE CLIFTON HUMAN INTERLUDE by JACK HIRSCHMAN AFTER UNGARETTI; I.M. DARRELL GRAY by ANSELM HOLLO SAY PARDON TO A BUM by DAVID IGNATOW STREET SONGS: 2. THE BEGGAR by WALLACE STEVENS ON A FAIR BEGGAR by PHILIP AYRES THE PATH-FLOWER by OLIVE TILFORD DARGAN THE WIND ON THE HILLS by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER |
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