Classic Poem

Ha! Ha! None dare marry me!
Chuckled the King called Death,
As, rattling his royal ribs together,
He danced himself out of breath.

Ha! Ha! None dare marry me!
Chuckled the lord of the scythe.
Yet my waist is slim, and my beard is trim,
And my legs are long and lithe.

None dare marry me! none dare marry me!
Sang he, strumming his sickle;
Though the maids I woo like a lover true,
And none can call me fickle.

None dare marry me! none dare marry me!
Bah! they are all afraid.
And he made a hone of a marrow-bone,
And whetted his rusting blade.

Ha! Ha! I dare marry you!
Came the bold reply.
I who am true and strong as you
Will love you till you die.

Ha! Ha! I dare marry you,
I am the maiden Love,
And know that right in the breast of a kite
May beat the heart of a dove.

Whet your sickle, and rattle your ribs,
Why should I be afeard?
There are starry skies in your sunken eyes,
And sunbeams under your beard.

Ha! Ha! I dare marry you!
Even now we will wed.
And she kissed his mouth, and his eyes, and his brow,
And Death as she kissed fell dead.