And why do you call her again and again?”
“You troublesome boy, why that’s the refrain,
Little brother!
O Mother Carey, mother!
What work is toward in the startled heaven?”)
“And what’s a refrain? What a curious word,
Sister Helen;
Is the ballad you’re writing about a sea-bird?”
“Not at all! why should it be? Don’t be absurd,
Little brother.