76 THE GIPSY GIRL

By Ralph Hodgson

“COME，try your skill，kind gentlemen，

A penny for three tries！”

Some threw and lost，some threw and won

A ten-a-penny prize．

She was a tawny gipsy girl，

A girl of twenty years，

I liked her for the lumps of gold

That jingled from her ears；

I liked the flaring yellow scarf

Bound loose around her throat，

I liked her showy purple gown

And flashy velvet coat．

A man came up，too loose of tongue，

And said no good to her；

She did not blush as Saxons do，

Or turn upon the cur；

She fawned and whined“Sweet gentleman，

A penny for three tries！”

—But oh，the den of wild things in

The darkness of her eyes！