Week 2: Poem Challenge

HereToFore (Poem)

 Undying Love

Jack and Jill ran up a hill...

I work upon a hill, always on site,

under the moon and above my friends,

I work hard labor, always at night,

as my shovel creaks and digs and bends.

Now, one night, I conversed with those who did not sleep,

and they said to me, with faces brown,

That a girl was coming; footsteps creep,

Coming with flowers and a mourning gown;

Under the moon and under the ground.

...to fetch a pal of water...

With a parting hand I left them,

and bid the girl a welcome,

She was beautiful, her eyes a gem,

And I stuttered and spoke too seldom.

She seemed surprised,

and asked if we were alone, perhaps to weep,

I stood and stared and did not lie,

I said to her: "my friends' asleep;"

Then I took her life to cherish and keep.

...Jack fell down and broke his crown...

My love for her grew day by day,

I spoke less and less to friends with faces brown,

I loved her most in every way,

From her milk-glazed eyes and rotting gown,

I loved her more than any mortal,

But then they came, those men with lights,

And I really tried to be warm and cordial,

But the men with the guns would not listen tonight;

I climbed the old lighthouse to make it right.

...and Jill came tumbling after.

She calls me Jack and I call her Jill,

then the cars came with flashing lights,

And we were a happy old couple upon the hill,

till the guns came yelling murder in the night,

But now we're free and now we're one,

when we hit the ground and it accepts us still,

We'll be free from men and free from guns,

and I'll have no other love to kill;

Now we are free: follow us? No one will,

My love is dead and I love her still,

Now we fall, the grave-keeper on the hill,

and then I'll have no love to kill;

She'll call me Jack and I'll call her Jill.