Now Jollyrei, one dismal day
Took up his sickle blade,
And off he went, this spectral gent
To seek a mortal maid.
To cause no fright he went by night
His journey was quite long;
To pass the time he sang a rhyme
And this was Jolly’s song:
“Preserve your breath, for I am death!
“And well you know my role!
“Please don’t despair, O maiden fair
“I’ve come to take your soul!”
The ghostly male crossed hill and dale
Towards the lady’s fate.
But even though he’d far to go
He still was not too late.
At rise of sun, his journey done
He stood there by her side;
It seemed not wrong to sing his song
To her, the crucified.
“Preserve your breath, for I am death!
“And well you know my role!
“Please don’t despair, O maiden fair
“I’ve come to take your soul!”
For three long days of pain-filled haze
Through ev’ry laboured breath
She’d searched in vain throughout the pain
For any sign of death.
Now at the end she met her friend
She saw him from above
And as she died, the lady sighed
These final words of love:
“O take my breath, for you are death!
“And well I know your role!
“I don’t despair, I’m glad you’re there
“To guard my mortal soul!”
To his surprise his empty eyes
Sprang forth a wistful tear;
With human pain his bony frame
Embraced that maiden dear.
And to this day, so some men say –
It is the strangest thing!
For as the breeze bestirs the trees
You still can hear her sing:
“O take my breath, for you are death!
“And well I know your role!
“I don’t despair, I’m glad you’re there
“To guard my mortal soul!”
Images: Jollyrei.
Poem: Wragg
Took up his sickle blade,
And off he went, this spectral gent
To seek a mortal maid.
To cause no fright he went by night
His journey was quite long;
To pass the time he sang a rhyme
And this was Jolly’s song:
“Preserve your breath, for I am death!
“And well you know my role!
“Please don’t despair, O maiden fair
“I’ve come to take your soul!”
The ghostly male crossed hill and dale
Towards the lady’s fate.
But even though he’d far to go
He still was not too late.
At rise of sun, his journey done
He stood there by her side;
It seemed not wrong to sing his song
To her, the crucified.
“Preserve your breath, for I am death!
“And well you know my role!
“Please don’t despair, O maiden fair
“I’ve come to take your soul!”
For three long days of pain-filled haze
Through ev’ry laboured breath
She’d searched in vain throughout the pain
For any sign of death.
Now at the end she met her friend
She saw him from above
And as she died, the lady sighed
These final words of love:
“O take my breath, for you are death!
“And well I know your role!
“I don’t despair, I’m glad you’re there
“To guard my mortal soul!”
To his surprise his empty eyes
Sprang forth a wistful tear;
With human pain his bony frame
Embraced that maiden dear.
And to this day, so some men say –
It is the strangest thing!
For as the breeze bestirs the trees
You still can hear her sing:
“O take my breath, for you are death!
“And well I know your role!
“I don’t despair, I’m glad you’re there
“To guard my mortal soul!”
Images: Jollyrei.
Poem: Wragg
