Classic Poem

Boys draw about the village now
The trailing fragment of a plough
& at each farmers door regale
Oer mugs of ginger heated ale
& the upgrown & sturdy clowns
As ‘witches’ go about the towns
Disguisd wi hunch backs stuffd wi straw
Who put the childerns fears in awe
Wi faces blackd they trace the street
& shake a box at all they meet
For pence—while many a maiden steals
Up from their toil on spinning wheels
From noisey joke & kisses rude
Th[r]eatend werever they intrude.