Cold Blows Wind - Katharine Blake

«cold blows the wind tonight sweetheart cold are the drops of rain

the one first love that ever i had in greenwood he was slain

now i have mourned upon his grave a twelve month and a day

i’ll set my sail before the wind to waft me far away»

«what is it that you want from me and will not let me sleep?

your salten tears they trickle down my winding sheet to steep»

«oh i will now redeem the pledge the pledge that once i gave

a kiss from off your lily white lips is all of you i crave»

«cold are my lips in death sweetheart my breath is earthy strong

if you must touch my clay cold lips your time will not be long»

then through the mould he heaved his head and through the herbage green

there fell a frosted bramble leaf it came their lips between

«now if you were not true in word as now i knew you be

i’d tear you as the withered leaves are torn from off the tree

and well for you that bramble leaf betwixt our lips were flung

the living to the living hold dead to the dead belong