WEED-TRYST

OCH, what would you see in the weeds to-day, Moineen, Moineen, That you left your song and you left your play, Moineen, Moineen? The thorn's in bloom and the ash-tree's green, And a pedlar man's come up the way ith a pac! of brooches and ribbons gay" #ow what would you see in the weeds to-day, Moineen, Moineen? Och, the water's green and the weeds are wet$ hat else would % see? There's a young cod fish, but % ha&e no net$ hat else would % see? #ow what would the water be saying to me? There a red weed there with a brown weed met, And fi&e sea stars on a grey stone set$ And where's the need for a girl to fret? hat else would % see? Och, honey woman, you sit too long$ Moineen, Moineen' 'Tis a cold wet sight and the day goes wrong, Moineen, Moineen' ould you see dar! things in the water green? ould you watch for a sight of the fairy throng ith their speech so soft and their spells so strong? Och, girl, 'tis a sin to hear their song$ Moineen, Moineen' #ow what would you ma!e with your tal! to me? And why would % rise? 'Tis a hole in the roc!s with a sup of the sea$ Och, why would % rise? %s it feared %'d be of a sight of my eyes? %'ll gather my !irtle o&er my !nee, And %'ll lift the weed and let them free" (o run and hide, if it's fairy or (hee, hen % bid them rise$ (he has put her foot in the waters cold$ Moineen, Moineen' Come out, wild woman, the way you're told$ Moineen, Moineen' Och, sure, 'tis the strangest sight was seen$ On a bed of weed with a crown of gold, ith a sil&er staff for his hands to hold $ $ Och, heart, 'tis a !ing of the days of old I Moineen, Moineen'

%s it dead he is or sleeping at all? Och, lea&e him lie' ere the men of *main so fine and tall? +irl, lea&e him lie' Och, woman dear, 'tis a li&e man's eye" And the drawing tide begins to call$ as that a word that his mouth let fall? His breath comes up in the bubbles small$ Och, lea&e him lie' (he has lifted his cold hand, wet with the sea$ Moineen, Moineen' (he has raised his head on her na!ed !nee$ Moineen, Moineen' 'Tis his dripping arm round her !irtle green, 'Tis his gold crown slipt from his temples free, 'Tis his cold, blue eyes that loo! on me ,

Och, girl, that such things in the weed should be,

Moineen, Moineen' He has set a !iss on her mouth so red$ Och, shame and fear' Her dar!, sweet hair is o&er his head$ Och, shame and fear' The tide comes up and the tide comes near $ $ $ $ And she will not rise till her word is said, Och, girl, but They ma!e you a cold wet bed$ And the time goes slow with the sea-drowned dead, Och, shame and fear '
-a&id Mc.ee right An %rish Heart )/)0 Shee 1 %n Celtic mythology, The (hee, or more properly, (idhe 2(i3e4, were faerie fol! Emain 1 %n %rish mythology and historical tradition it was the capital of the 5laid, the people who ga&e their name to the pro&ince of 5lster$