The wind blows east, — the wind blows west, —
It blows upon the gallows tree:
Oh, little babe beneath my breast,
He died for thee! — he died for me!

The judges came, — the children came
(Some mother's heart o'er each had yearned),
They set their black lies on my name: —
" A God-accursed witch who learned

" Each night (they said) the Devil's art,
Through Salem wood by devils drawn. " —
I, whose heart beat against his heart
From dark till dawn! — from dark till dawn!

He faced them in his fearless scorn
(The sun was on him as he stood):
" No purer is her babe unborn;
I prove her sinless with my blood. "

They spared the babe beneath my breast, —
They bound his hands, — they set me free, —
Hush, hush, my babe! hush, hush and rest;
He died for thee! — he died for me!

They dragged him, bound, to Gallows Hill
(I saw the flowers among the grass);
The women came, — I hear them still, —
They held their babes to see him pass.

God curse them! — Nay, — Oh God forgive!
He said it while their lips reviled;
He kissed my lips, — he whispered: " Live!
The father loves thee in the child. "

Then earth and sky grew black, — I fell —
I lay as stone beside their stone.
They did their work. They earned their Hell.
I woke on Gallows Hill, alone.

Oh Christ who suffered, Christ who blessed,
Shield him upon the gallows tree!
O babe, his babe, beneath my breast,
He died for thee! — he died for me!