A lad went piping through the Earth, Gladly, madly, merrily, With a tune for death and a tune for birth, And a tune for lover's revelry. He kissed the girls that sat alone With none to whisper, none to woo; Fired at his touch their faces shone, And beauty drenched them as the dew. Old men who heard him danced again, And shuffled round with catching breath, And those that lay on beds of pain Went dancing through the gates of death. If only he could make us thrill Once more with mirth and melody! I listened, but the street was still, And no one played for you and me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 12. A RENUNCIATION by THOMAS CAMPION ODE TO EVENING by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) DICKENS IN CAMP by FRANCIS BRET HARTE SING-SONG; A NURSERY RHYME BOOK: 119 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |