THE CRAB, the bullace, and the sloe,
They burgeon in the Spring;
And, when the west wind melts the snow,
The redstarts build and sing.
But Deaths at work in rind and root,
And loves the green buds best;
And when the pairing musics mute,
He spares the empty nest.
Death! Death!
Death is master of lord and clown.
Close the coffin, and hammer it down.
When nuts are brown and sere without,
And white and plump within,
And juicy gourds are passd about,
And trickle down the chin;
When comes the reaper with his scythe,
And reaps and nothing leaves,
Oh, then it is that Death is blithe,
And sups among the sheaves.
Death! Death!
Lower the coffin and slip the cord:
Death master of clown and lord.
When logs about the house are stackd,
And next years hose is knit,
And tales are told and jokes are crackd,
And faggots blaze and spit;
Death sits down in the ingle-nook,
Sits down and doth not speak:
But he puts his arm round the maid that s warm,
And she tingles in the cheek.
Death! Death!
Death is master of lord and clown;
Shovel the clay in, tread it down.
Songs From Prince Lucifer I - Grave-Diggers Song
written by Alfred Austin
© Alfred Austin