The Widow in the Bye Street

by John Masefield

'Lower away.' 'Go easy.' 'Lower, lower.'

'You've dang near knock my skull in. Loose it slower.'

'Back in the horses.' 'Are the swing-boats loaded?'

'All right to start.' 'Bill, where's the cushion gone?

The red one for the Queen?' 'I think I stowed it.'

'You think, you think. Lord, where's that cushion, John?'

'It's in that bloody box you're sitting on,

What more d'you want?' A concertina plays

Far off as wandering lovers go their ways.

Up the dim Bye Street to the market-place