Fair as a Rose

With hair like fire, in love’s desire
The Maiden, fair as a rose
Her eyes all glassen, out plucked, a lyre
The Maiden, fair as a rose
Her hands a wrought with the stiffness came
I love her fast, with no fear or shame
I found her here, my love so dear
The Maiden, fair as a rose
Came stumbled on, like a pebble shorn
The Maiden, fair as a rose
'Neath grasses, feathered, her nightgown worn
The Maiden, fair as a rose
Her skin, still fresh, though who knows how long
She lie, like this, half alive, half gone
It seems too late, bear, a peasant’s fate
The Maiden, fair as a rose
Lai lai lai, lai lai, lai lai, lai lai
Lai lai, lai lai, lai lai
Lai lai lai, lai lai, lai lai lai, lai lai
The Maiden, fair as a rose
With feet like branches, her touch aloof
The Maiden, fair as a rose
The leaves and dirt frame her perfect youth
The Maiden, fair as a rose
The night wards off what the day once brought
La da dee, la da dum, it’s a beggar’s lot
Now her sweet perfume fills the night, she blooms
The Maiden, fair as a rose
Been sitting still, like a thrushen grebe
With my Maiden, fair as a rose
I’ll sit all night, les my birdy leave
The Maiden, fair as a rose
Though she might have once
Voice is mute, silence
No flitter, no warble, or whistle hence
And profess her love, never heard, never nought
I can sit and rot like a fragrant sot
As her face grows cold, and her body taut
You get what you need and I got what I want
The Maiden, fair as a rose
Never warm, never loud, never fear, never proud…
The Maiden, fair as a rose
Lai lai lai, lai lai, lai lai, lai lai
Lai lai, lai lai, lai lai
Lai lai lai, lai lai, lai lai lai, lai lai
The Maiden, fair as a rose