O woman, washing by the river! Hush-a-by, babe not mine, My woeful wail wilt pity never? Hush-a-by, babe not mine. A year this day, I was snatched for ever, Hush-a-by, babe not mine, To the green hill fort where thorn trees shiver, Hush-a-by, babe not mine. Shoheen, shoheen, shoheen, shoheen, Sho-hu-lo, sho-hu-lo, Shoheen, shoheen, shoheen, shoheen, 'Tis not thou my baby, O! 'Tis there the fairy court is holden, Hush-a-by, babe not mine, And there is new ale, there is olden, Hush-a-by, babe not mine, And there are combs of honey golden, Hush-a-by, babe not mine, And there lie men in bonds enfolden, Hush-a-by, babe not mine. Shoheen, etc. How many there, of fairest faces! Hush-a-by, babe not mine, Bright-eyed boys, with manly graces! Hush-a-by, babe not mine, Gold-haired girls with curling tresses! Hush-a-by, babe not mine, --There, mothers nurse with sad caresses. Hush-a-by, babe not mine. Shoheen, etc. Ah, bid my husband haste to-morrow, Hush-a-by, babe not mine, A waxen taper he shall borrow, Hush-a-by, babe not mine, A black knife bring to cross my sorrow, Hush-a-by, babe not mine, And stab their first steed coming thoro', Hush-a-by, babe not mine. Shoheen, etc. Say, pluck the herb where gate-thorns quiver, Hush-a-by, babe not mine, And wish a wish that God deliver, Hush-a-by, babe not mine, If he come not then--he need come never, Hush-a-by, babe not mine. For they'll make me Fairy Queen for ever! Hush-a-by, babe not mine! Shoheen. etc. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWILIGHT COMES by HAYDEN CARRUTH JOY (2) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON PROVING by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON AUTUMN SONG by KATHERINE MANSFIELD DOMESDAY BOOK: GOTTLIEB GERALD by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: MRS. SIBLEY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |