Alasdair Roberts Hazel Forks
Because my face betrayed a smile
Because my smile betrayed my love
I went down to the hazel grove
And we'll all go down together
The hazel forked three ways in my hand
Three ways in my blood
Three ways in my mind
First became a flock of cranes
They danced away in a Troy-Town maze
Their shrieking frames made a chill refrain
And they made a name unknown to man
I will now reveal the name they made:
"The asphodel and the lily red
The daffodil has lost its head
A bloom of dread, a bloom of dread
The newlywed and the nearly dead"
And they'll all go down together
Next one frowned and he went down
Then gave a laugh and forked up the path
And flew away forever
Next one cowered and drew away
Then sprung back into my face
Because my face betrayed a smile
Because my smile betrayed some love
I had to go down to the hazel grove
Now we'll all go down together
Only one more task to tackle
Before we reach the final battle
Loose the Earl o' Hell's belt-buckle
Crumple down his trousers
Here's the gifts of the infant suitor
A cask of ash and a flask of pewter
A map of the city of the future
And a clutch of empty browsers
Here's the dowry of the leper
A walnut shell and a peck of pepper
And an alder spray to carve a quiver
For a gang of hazel dowsers
They dowsed themselves into a tangle
Called themselves a hazel bush
They snarled so sweet and incomplete
That they stole the heart of a little song thrush
