A year's spinning

He listened at the porch that day,

To hear the wheel go on, and on;

And then it stopped, ran back away,

While through the door he brought the sun:

But now my spinning is all done.

He sat beside me, with an oath

That love ne'er ended, once begun;

I smiled -- believing for us both,

What was the truth for only one:

And now my spinning is all done.

My mother cursed me that I heard

A young man's wooing as I spun:

Thanks, cruel mother, for that word --

For I have, since, a harder known!

And now my spinning is all done.

I thought -- O God! -- my first-born's cry

Both voices to mine ear would drown:

I listened in mine agony --

It was the silence made me groan!

And now my spinning is all done.

Bury me 'twixt my mother's grave,

(Who cursed me on her death-bed lone)

And my dead baby's (God it save!)

Who, not to bless me, would not moan.

And now my spinning is all done.

A stone upon my heart and head,

But no name written on the stone!

Sweet neighbours, whisper low instead,

"This sinner was a loving one --

And now her spinning is all done."

And let the door ajar remain,

In case he should pass by anon;

And leave the wheel out very plain, --

That HE, when passing in the sun,

May see the spinning is all done.