Child Lovers

Six summers old was she, and when she came

Her head was in an everlasting flame;

The golden fire it licked her neck and face,

But left no mark of soot in any place.

When this young thing had seen her lover boy,

She threw her arms around his neck for joy;

Then, paired like hazel nuts, those two were seen

To make their way towards the meadows green.

Now, to a field they came at last, which was

So full of buttercups they hid the grass;

’Twas fit for kings to meet, and councils hold—

You never saw so fine a cloth of gold.

Then in a while they to a green park came,

A captain owned it, and they knew his name;

And what think you those happy children saw?

The big, black horse that once was in a war.