The Maiden Clad wi' Clay

Her cot has got the shutters closed
Her garden's full o weeds
The beds where larkheel flowers reposed
The stinging nettle breeds
Stray tulips may be coming still
But thistles hide the flowers
Once their lived flowers that meant no ill
And loved the summers dewy showers

Her Mother lost her Father first
And then she lost her cow
Poultry and pigs like childern mist
And none knew where or how
She put the pot lid on agen
Ere tears fell i' the pot
She seldom wept afore the Men
Nor yet condemned her lot

At last her Mother pined away
And every friend she had
A branch broke from a bush o may
Could hardly seem as bad
Jenny neer doubted her belief
Nor deemed Gods judgement wrong
But went away oer come wi grief
And may be not for long

Nine years have come nine years have past
And Jenney not returned
The doors and shutters nail'd up fast
Till even sparrows mourned
The flowers in blossom used to stoop
Not tied up as before
No hand was left to tie them up
Weeds spread up to the door

And every year brought thicker crops
Choked flowers were seen no more
And then they nailed the shutters up
And then they nailed the door
Though tears were shed and blessings said
When the Maiden went away
But tears long dry and so's each sigh
The Maidens clad in Clay.
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