Classic Poem

One morning there journeyed three lasses,
On the high-road to Linden Lea,
Who, swinging their long braided tresses,
Went carolling gayly all three.

They walked first in marching-time only,
Then waltzed along careless and free,
Said, “My but the sea-shore is lonely!”
And carolled on gayly all three.

When they came to the turning, the lasses,
(On the highway to Linden Lea)
They cried “Cuckoo!” and quick in the grasses
They crouched down as still as could be,—

And stayed there as still as the dead then,
And blushed to the eyelids all three.
But why should the girls have grown red then,
And why checked this carol of glee?
Aha!

Three students stood near where it passes,—
The highway to Linden Lea,—
And 'twas therefore they shrank 'mid the grasses,
Those carolling maidens three.

Then the students, who stood there a-smirking,
And sniggering slyly all three,
Cried “Cuckoo!” to the lasses a-lurking,
And mimicked their carol of glee.