V

woman: darling dear what have you done?

your clothes are town, your make-up runs.

daughter: i ran through brambles, blooming thistle

i washed my face in the river when you whistled me on.

woman: darling dear, what hav eyou done?

your hands and face are smeared with blood.

daughter: the chaplain came and called me out

to beat and to butcher his mother's sow

woman: but darling dear, they found him dead

this morning on the riverbed.

but hush now darling, don't you cry.

your reward's in the sweet by-and -by.

hush now baby, don't you cry.

your reward's in the sweet by-and-by.

crone: and now we've seen your powers

softly stretch the hours

you're a fickle little twister

are you sweet on your sister?

as now you go wandering home.