Skimmed my mulligan stew;

Laid beneath the barren hedge—

Sleety night-winds blew.

Slanting rain chills my bones,

Sun bakes my skin;

Rocky road for my limping feet,

Door where I can’t go in.

Above the hedgerow floated filmy smoke

From the hidden singer’s fire. Once more the voice:

I used to burn the mules with the whip